GOOD CEREAL SEASON

Dominion, Volume 21, Issue 111, 8 February 1928, Page 10

GOOD CEREAL SEASON

HARVESTING IN FULL SWING GROWERS OPTIMISTIC Dominion Special Sekvice. Dunedin, February 7. Although it is p,a-;ucuuy cfcrt.aiu that a harvest like last season s record, and bountiful one will not be garnered in North Otago this year, growers of all classes ot cereals have little to grumble at. present indications point tu a very successful wind up for the season s operations. Some record yields are reported and tlie average is reported to be high, although definite and reliable data, on this point is not yet available, harvesting is now in full swing throughout the northern districts, and operations are being favoured with the best conditions. What stands are not yet ready fertile reaper are quickly ripening and hardening as a result of the hot dry weather, which does not appear to have been in any way affected by the half-hearted attempt to rain which made yesterday dull and threatening. With a probable high average yield and good harvesting weather, farmers are anticipating a successful year. It is seldom that a record harvest such as that which proved the country’s salvation in 1926-27, is followed by another, so that there will be few growers disappointed that this year’s crops have not reached the level of the past year’s. A feature of the cereal crops in North Otago this year is then remarkable freedom from fungoid diseases. This pest is not entirely absent but in comparison with former years the position is encouraging, An “Otago Daily Times ’ reporter made a tour of the North Otago wheat fields this week, and found growers not only frantically busy harvesting, but also surprisingly optimistic, a state of mind which is conducive to good wonk, but which, according to a Ncapara settler,” is unsettling, because lately we have had so little reason to le optimistic.” Horse teams and tractors were, busy everywhere, and all the harvesting machinery of the district was working at high pressure.

The cutting of wheat was commenced some time ago, but it was not until last week that harvesting became general. Maur Algerian oat crops are already in stook. and Gartons are being harvested everywhere with every despatch. Some of ihe wheat yields appear io bo rather light, but the. majority will equal and perhaps excel the Dominion average for 1926-27 of 3.3.92 bushels per acre. The. area, sown down in wheat shows a slight increase on that of last year. The average yield of oats, which was 42.89 bushels ver acre in Otago last year, and 43.86 for the Dominion, is greatly increased this year. The acreage in this crop, however, is greatly reduced. Bariev has not been sown in any groat quantity, but the cuts already made in these stands have proved very satisfactory.