The Chronicle LEVIN: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1916. FARMERS, GROW WHEAT.

Horowhenua Chronicle, 26 October 1916, Page 2

The Chronicle LEVIN: THURSDAY, OCTOBER 26, 1916. FARMERS, GROW WHEAT.

A disquieting item of cabled news, from Rome, received on Tuesday last, was that which conveyed the estimate of tho International Bureau of Statistics that the world's wheat crop for 1915-l(i would be twenty-five per cent, below the average. The Internationa. 1 . Bureau is ail institution wherein no private ends operate to influence judgment or estimates; it is supported by fifty-five Governments, each having delegates to the institution, and is administered bv a General Assembly and a Permanent Committee. The estimates are made, up from Government figures in all instances; so it follows that the wheat shortage now recorded is actual. The news can be made of help to every country in southern latitudes that still has time to undertake the. growing of wheat; whether it. will bo availed of in full measure remains to be seen. The agriculturists of

Australia produced a phenomenally large crop of wheat last year, but insufficiency of transport vessels caused, great losses where otherwise great gains would have followed; and this year the result of that discouraging experience may be reflected in diminished sowings throughout Australia. In New Zealand the da.irying industry has yielded such lucrative returns in the last two years that ninny agriculturists

are disinclined to bow large areas of cereals, but purely as a matter of speculation, as distinguished from the empire's very real need for good supplies of wheat and other cereals, it is open to encouraging argument that to bow wheat in large areas for this year end will prove exceedingly profitable. Even at 4s 6d per bushel (on the farms) there is a big margin of profit; hut the prospect of much higher prices for the 1917 crop is undoubtedly great. The news will ntot be wholly welcome to the general body of consumers, local and further afield'; but fact must be faced, and those whose interests are in the primary production avenues will show wisdom by arranging their agricultural and pastor.il schemes of activity with a full regard to the valuable indications which the International Bureau of Statistics have given to us.