GROWING WHEAT.

Hokitika Guardian, 17 June 1926, Page 4

GROWING WHEAT.

ASHBURTON, June 13. Tbs next wheat- harvest in the Ashburton County should be double that of the i 924-25 season, provided favourable weather prevails during the crowing period, is the consensus of opinion among farmers.

Last season was a poor one for wheat, owing to the long spell of vet weather experienced during the sowing period, but throughout the ■ county, which is the largest wheat-producing county in New Zealand, farmers have this year gone in extensively for the valuable grain crop. The manner in which farmers prepared tiio land for sowing ten years ago or even less, and the methods adopted to-day make an interesting comparison. It was only a decade ago ti nt the general practice was to plough the land only once, but to-day a farmer is very lucky if lie can get a crop at all j on one furrow. Harrowing the wheat | in the spring was something that aas j never thought of ten years ago, but to-day it- is general, and its advantages are plainly seen. ! Wheat-growing now entails a far , greater outlay than was the ease a few , years ago, the application of artificial I fertilisers being responsible for a eon- ' siderable portion of the increased ex- i penditure necessary. Ten years ago farmers did not -jmv manure with the

wheat, but to-day this is considered, to be piaetiealjy essential. Superphos- i phote is very strongly in favour"? but ' in a number of oases farmers use a mixture. The class of land, of course, ' has a great deal to 3o with the fertilis-