The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1916. THE WHEAT PROBLEM.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 1 June 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN. THURSDAY, JUNE 1, 1916. THE WHEAT PROBLEM.

! Some Canterbury agriculturist* who ; i-ailed to secure "'boom prices" lor their wheat this year have been stating their intent to cease agriculture and adopt grazing, as a more profitable pursuit. This is as it may tbe, but the statement carries small weight with people versed in the relative returns per acre from pastoral and agricultural activities when compared, If, however, the Canterbury farmers are sincere in their resolve, the fact remains for comforting consideration thai) Australia is fast approaching the time whon her productivity in seasons of J drought wiU be much less-effected than they were in years gone by. Irrigation has worked wonders in the dry areas of Australasia, and the latest achitvements (which we summarise below) are of a nature to give heart to those people of Central vrtago who for years pest have been endeavouring to extend the irrigation systems of that comparatively dry interior. If Australia's productivity continues to inj crease as it has oeen doing in late I years, New Zealand will become indej pendent of her present agricultural ari "biters, the Canterbury larmers, and I they will be left to secure their sup- | posititious greater gains from pastoral pursuits free from the odium that attaches to the man who in times of domestic stress fails to aid ins country by producing the commodities she most needs. Australia, with her vast areas c.l" inrable land, will be able to flood New Zealand with cheap grain if the restrictions caused by drought conditions become inoperative throng?! extension of the Australian irrigation system. A proof of the progress made to this desirable ena is afforded in a paragraph which wo reprint from the Sydney Sun. .It runs"lnformation has just been received from the irrigation areas regarding an exceptional crop which has ibeen produced by Mr A. Marshall, of Farm 732. Yanco. The bulk of the arens of oat crops are cuit as hay, but this crop has been allowed to mature, and it has just been harvested with the threshing i machine, the yield being estimated at from 70 to 75 bushels per acre. This ! figure is up to the very high New Zea- I land standard, and well ahead, of the j average for the State. Moreover, the ' sample is said to be of first-class quality. Seeing that, at the present time, 1 the value of the crop is from A? lOd i to 3s per bushel at Yanco it wiM be j

seen that the settler is likely to realize a very satisfactory sum in return for the time and labour involved in its production. It is worthy of note that Mr -llais'iaU's bloctt is one of the larger area farms not considered entirely suitable for intensive cultivation, but rather tor the carrying on of Sailying and mixed forming operations. The fact .that an oat crop or suoli abundance can b 1 . 1 produced on the heavier second-class Yanco lands, with the aicl of irrigation, tendts to strengthen tho opinion that tho possibilities of these lands hove not yet been fu>'.y appreciated."