New Zealand Agriculturist TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1879. SOW WHEAT FREELY.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 1033, 12 August 1879, Page 1 (Supplement)

New Zealand Agriculturist TUESDAY, JULY 12, 1879. SOW WHEAT FREELY.

I Within the past month news has been ! received from Home and elsewhere that should inspire our farmers with confidence, and induce them to look more than hopefully forward to the results of the next harvest Cable me.-sayes have informed us that the continued wet and very unseasonable weather has materially damaged the British. French, Canadian, American, and other wheat crops, and it is confidently" predicted that the yields will, in consequence, be greatly diminished. That there is abundant reason for accepting these statements as correct is futlv shown by the fact that within a few* days wheat advanced by 3s. per quarter in the London market. This is news which, while far from being calculated to raise the drooping spirits of the struggling and already nearly ruined English farmers, should prove cheering to us. It should encourage

us to look forward to a golden harvest next season, and lead grain growers to cultivate as much land as possible. So far, we are aware, farmers, as a rule, have not shown a disposition to sow largely with any crop this season. They appear, in fact, to think that it would be folly to put in a large crop. Indeed a prominent farmer with whom we were discussing the matter the other day remarked, " What is the use of farmers growing a large quantity of grain ? We cannot find markets for it, and the result is that the price is brought down so low that nothing is left for the grower after paying expenses. No; we must content ourselves with growing enough to meet with a ready sale and good prices.'' Never was a greater mistake made. Last season, we grant, was not a very encouraging or profitable one for the farmer: but it cannot be accepted as affording any criterion of what will be the result ne.xt season. The circumstances surrounding last season's operations should be borne in mind when farmers are endeavoring to base their calculations for the future upon its results. In the first place, then, the weather was exceedingly unfavorable to large yields, the heavy and continued hot winds not only crippling the growth of the plant and preventing the proper maturity of the grain, but driving large quantities of it out of the ears. This was one cause of the unprofitable nature of the year's operations to grain growers. Of course, the sum total of the growers' misfortunes was greatly swelled by the low prices obtainable for the grain when brought into market. Had anything like respectable rates prevailed the growers would certainly have had a balance on the right side of their account despite the unfavorable season, and the consequent injury to the crops. Now, what brought about the low prices? In some measure, at any rate, the tightness of the money market contributed in no small degree towards the unfavorable result. It is undeniable that many growers were forced to quit their grain at almost any price in order to meet the demands of their bankers or of those who had advanced money on the security of the growing crop. That sacrifice was no doubt a necessary one, and we cannot blame those who were compelled to make a sacrifice owing to no fault of their own but because of the vagaries of the money market. We unhesitatingly assert that had not the farmers been compelled to rush their produce into the market and accept almost any price in order to procure a sum of ready money wheat would never have gone below 3s. 6d., and probably 4s. would have been the lowest price. In this opinion we are strengthened by the fact that each month after the opening of the season saw an advance in price until over 4s. was obtained. There were not wanting those who saw and duly appreciated the necessities of the farmers, and gladly bought at the low rate with the full prospect of obtaining a handsome return. But unfortunately the number of those in a position to speculate was limited, and of competition there was none. Those who could buy dictated their own terms —terms not by any means favorable to the farmers, but which they were compelled to accede to. Had growers been in a position to hold their grain for a short time they would not have had so much reason to complain of last season's doing, and little cause to pursue the foolish course of only sawing sparingly this season. We say now boldly, and with the full knowledge of the very great responsibility we are incurring, that there is every prospect of wheat being scarce in the Old World during the next year, and we should ljke to see our farmers participating in the profits derivable from supplying the wants of a deficient market. Were it not for the large quantities now pouring into the Mother Country in what state would the grain market be ? The deliveries of Home - grown wheat are small, and though it may be urged that this is owing to the harvest being backward in consequence of the prolonged wet season, we firmly believe that the yield will fall a long way short of the ayecage, and that Great Britain will have to seek elsewhere for the necessary amount of breadstuffs to make up the deficiency. Now, why should not the Colonies provide their quota of the staple article of food and reap the consequent amount of benefit? We can see no reason capable of being urged against such a proposition, more especially as it is announced that the crops of nearly all other grain-growingcountries have been more or less damaged, including America, the most formidable opponent the Colonies have to contend against. Of one thing, too, we may be tolerably sure, and that is, that if the American Canadian crops fall as short of the average as expected very little wheat from California will find its way to Australia, whereas the Americans have hitherto monopolised a fair share of 1 business in the Colonies. The withdrawal of the Californian supplies from

the Colonies would open up to New Zealand farmers a further market for their grain. All things considered, we think that our farmers would do well to grow a full crop this season, and we therefore strongly advise those who have not already put in a full crop to add to their land under cultivation. The disastrous results attending farming in England during the past year —the low prices ruling for the last crop and the partial failure of this season's crop—must have a depressing effect upon agriculture, and we think we shall not be far wide of the mark in predicting that a great falling off in land under cultivation will take place in the Old Country next year. Should this prove the case, as we believe it will, high rates for wheat must prevail 3 indeed, experience has shown that English farmers cannot with profit continue to grow wheat at the prices which have hitherto ruled in England, and they must either desist from so doing, or a higher standard of prices must be established. But even supposing that our view of the case should not be a correct one—supposing that the opening of the next grqin season here should be accompanied by low prices our farmers might meet the difficulty by shipping Home on their own account a portion of their wheat, and so force those who wish to buy to give a respectable price, Many of the growers in this district adopted similar tactics last season, and the experiment bids fair to prove highly successful. If the present prices are maintained they will receive something like 6s. per bushel for their wheat, and this, after deducting expenses, will leave them a fair margin of profit. Therefore we say to our farmers, Be of good cheer, and grow wheat freely,