THE WHEAT HARVEST

Dominion, Volume 13, Issue 238, 2 July 1920, Page 10

THE WHEAT HARVEST

The Acting-Govornmont Stntisticiin(Mt. J. W. Butcher) reports the quan- | tity of wheat thrashed out January io April, 1920, as 3,187,403 bushels. To this, probably, another million bushols has to bo added. But, even so, the production of wheat in the Dominion is tho lowest for many years past. Notwithstanding tho encouragement given to growers, it looks very much as if Now Zealand were going out of tho wheatgrowing business. The country'* requirements are G,000,000 to 6,500,000 bushels per annum. The production so far probable w 1,200,000. Tho result mu6t be importation frflm other countries, and' that at certainty not less than Bs. per bushel. The yield ibis year is 34.85 bushels per aero—its averago was 39.57, in tho Wellington district. The highest Dominion average 1 for tho past few years was 33.69 bushels in 1911-12, and tho lowest was 21.59 bushels in 1915-16. The nroduction of New Zealand-wheat within recent years was highest in 1910-11, viz., 8,200,221 bushels, and the lowest, 1912-13, wab 5,179,62(1 bushels. Much relief from Australia can hardly bo looked for, for tho 1919-20 production is 34,000,0$ bushels, as against 63,000,000 for the last harvest; 103,300,000 for 1917-18, and 133,275,000 for 1916-17. The price of wheat for Australian millers' requirements is 7s. Bd. per litiehol, and 12a. Cd. for export to South 6ea« and »t ships' stores