SPRING SOWING OF WHEAT

Southland Times, Issue 24231, 14 September 1940, Page 13

SPRING SOWING OF WHEAT

GOOD RESULTS FROM TAINUI

Though it is always recognized that wheat sown in the autumn gives better yields than wheat sown in spring, yet the contrary is sometimes true, and there are always certain paddocks that because of the preceding crop cannot be got ready till spring, states The Press. As a general average, only 12 per cent, of wheat in Canterbury is sown after August 1, but in certain areas, and in certain localities, springsown wheat amounts to 33 per cent, of the area.

In the past, varieties sown in spring have been restricted to Tuscan, Marquis, and Jumbuck, and sometimes good results have been obtained, but there is little doubt that the best wheat for spring sowing now available is Tainui. Forty or 50 of the crops of Tainui that were sown last spring did not do very well, because the spring was very dry, and because Tainui is so early in its development that it was not able to take advantage of the rains that fell about Christmas. Nevertheless, the average yield of Tainui for New Zealand last harvest was 28.16 bushels, while the average for all Tuscan -was 26.77. The question of when it is too, late to sow in spring is one, of course, which can never be answered without knowing what kind of weather there is going to be, but in general it might be considered safe to sow up to the equinox. Many crops are sown later than this, but the risk of failure becomes greater as the season advances. Arrangements were made during the autumn for supplies of Tainui seed to be held in preparation for a large demand in the spring. Land still unsown may still be safely laid down in wheat as soon as soil conditions are appropriate.