FARM NOTES.

Franklin Times, Volume 9, Issue 657, 9 August 1921, Page 6

FA RM NOTES.

WHEAT IX BRITAIN. The problem of wheat growing is >'o nearer solution. Before the war the low cost of imported wheat had led. British farmers 'to reduce the area under crop to a minimum, and when the submarine campaign and the closing of the Baltic and Black Seas cut down the supplies and raised prices it became evident that more wheat must be grown at heme unless famine was to prevail. The Government therefore guaranteed prices for some years ahead, and the area under wheat increased very rapidly. It was hoped that better days had come for the British wheat grpwer, and that in future the country would be far less dependent than in the past on imported wheat. Since the war the area in wheat has fallen off rapidly, in spite of the guaranteed price, and the British Government nowfinds itself faced with the probability of having to pay 30 millions next year to subsidise farmers to grow wheat. The world price has fallen far more rapidly than was expected, and the Government cannot carryout its promise without heavy cost at a time when there is a necessity for the utmost economy. The British wheat grower is therefore to be left to battle on as best he can. The position is unfortunate, but cheap bread is essential for the workers of Britain at the present time. The uncertainty of the future is another disturbing factor. When Siberia and Russia settle down immense quantities of wheat will be produced in those countries, and other parts of the world, such as India, Australia, and America, where the' good prices are stimulating increased wheat production, may find themselves up against a flood of cheap Russian wheat in the Eastern European markets. The Imperial Government perhaps forsees such a probability, and is getting out of the business in good time. In one respect, probably, it may have betier information than is available to ordinary commercial channels —it may have an idea, through its trade negotiations with the Soviet, when Russia is again likely to be an exporter of wheat. — DESTROYING WEEDS BY CHEMICALS. We have often wondered if some means could not be found for de- ! stroying gorse, blackberry, and sim- ! il ir weeds which at present are being allowed to grow and spread at their own sweet will in the waste places in this district, and, in fact, all over the North Island. While the hoe and the cultivator are likely to remain as the two most efficient weapons to use in the combat with weeds, there are certain cases where the use of some chemical may be extremely desirable. A f good example of the /latter is the case of a grain crop infected with an annual such as wild mustard, where it is possible by spraying with iron sulphate or copper sulphate to injure the weed to such an exterft that it is unable to ripen its seeds. There are also numerous plots of waste ground in towns, miles of roadsides all over the country, railroad tracks, and large areas of stony or rocky ground that cannot be cultivated. where the employment of chemical means for keeping down weeds might be profitably consider-

eu. The spray should be applied in tine calm weather when there is a probability that no rain will fall during the next 24 hours* The amount of spraying mixture willl vary somewhat with the kind of spraying machine used, but as a general rule at least 60 gallons are necessary to cover an acre. The spray should be applied while the weeds are young. The chemical substances that are most employed for killing weeds ate sulphuric acid, iron sulphate, copper sulphate, common salt, caustic soda, sodium arsemte, carbolic acid, orchard heating oil and fuel oil. After the use of some of these the soil remains sterile until the chemical has been washed out by rain. In calculating the strength to be used it has to be remembered that a gallon of water weights 10 pounds* Sulphuric' acid or oil of vitriol has a corrosive effect on the spraying ap- | pa i at us and can be used only in a weak solution varying from 3 to 10 j per cent. It has no injurious effect \ on wheat, oats, or barley crops, and | has fertilising effect on the soil. | Iron sulphate of copper as is used | in a solution of 15 to 20 per cent, but cannot be applied with safety to a crop of beans or flax. Copper sulphate or bluest one can be used instead of iron sulphate, but or ,iv in a solution of 1 1 uto 2P er cent. Common salt or sodium chloride is used in a strength of 20 to 25 per cent. It checks the growth of other s v ,l f ;r.ts besides, weeds until ; t has : been washed out by ram. .Caustic soda or sodium chloride is

used in a 5 per cent, solution. It kills all kinds of vegetation. - Sodium arsenite is used at the rate of 2 pounds to 60 gallons of water. It is very poisonous and the powder is-'dangerous to health-if inhaled. it kills all vegetation. Carbolic acid is used in a solution of 12*0 per cent, or stronger. Orchard heating oil is applied afc full strength in a fine mist. It destroys all vegetation, but is not poisonous and does not injure the soil. Fuel oil can be used om waste ground or garden paths. After its use the soil remains sterile for a considerable period. *- Of the various patent weed ers “Atlas A” was tested during the summer of 1920 on various weeds* and gave good results. TREE PLANTING OFFERS ADVANTAGES. Western Canada is hungry for trees. This is the verdict of members, of the Canadian Forestry Association given after last summer’s trip of the “Tree Planting Car*' of the C. P. R., through the Prairie Provinces. And steps are being taken both to extend the interest and to meet, the demand. Westien nurseries are producing thousands of seedlings and distributing them as quickly as possible, wherever the need is felt. The success that attended the western visit of the Tree Planting Car last season led the association to repeat the experiment and ifstarted off on its mission again a couple of weeks ago. It is tine ordinary railway coach fitted up with .seating accommodation and moving picture apparatus as well as sample trees of various kinds suitable for the locations that will be visited by the association’s representatives. The work this year, as last, is in j charge of Mr Archibald Mitchell. It j is estimated that at least 10,000 persons were met in connection with that tour, either in attendance at the meetings or encountered individually jat the stations. The following are ! a few of the questions asked: “Why | is it my house plants do not grow?” ■ “What varieties of apples and crabs j would you advise for '.this country?” “Why do the evergreens that I transplanted from the hills not grow?” • ! This year more questions will be ! asked and possibly more, people will j be seen and an honest effort will be made to solve the problems confronting the settlers in The various and diversified sections. In some cases thd settler knew something about trees before he went into the new count rye* ! He quickly learned what would suc- ! ceed, and what would not. His experience has been of great value in convincing ithe ether settlers the right course to take and conitrming the recommendations of the lectures. The trees can be grown both \£or use and for ornament, in dyy and wot sections, in cold as well as moderate districts, under proper conditions and care has been demons.rated so convincingly that there is a prospect, according to those interested, that the future will see quite extensive woodlands restored to the great west within a reasonable period. The advantages of tree planting as a preventative of soil drifting has been demonstrated in many instances and this is one of thfe most attractive as well as one of the most urgent of the ■features connected with western farm operations.