Moving to a Great Future

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 364, 26 May 1928, Page 27

Moving to a Great Future

DOMINION’S FARM LANDS

Retired Experts Views

FE last few years have seen a decided move towards better farming in New Zealand. Yet there is every indication that there is room for much great development New Zealand has a great future.” Thus Mr. F. W. Jones, for years general manager of the International Harvester Company in New Zealand, during an interview with a Sun representative prior to his departure for California early this week.

"(THE value of mechanical power on the farm, said Mr. Jones, was every day receiving more and more recognition. In Canterbury, so great had.been the demand for tractors during the past year or so, that difficulty had been experienced in giving immediate delivery. An instance of the growth of mechanical power on the (arm could be taken from the fact that in 1924 there were approximately 512 agricultural tractors in the Dominion. To-day they numbered approximately 3,000. This, said Mr. Jones, was ample evidence of the fact that farmers were recognising that power went a long way toward solving the problem of cheaper and more extensive production. Mechanical power allowed the farmer to plough deeper and faster, to grub better, and to work the land more frequently. Naturally this resulted in bigger yields. One family of farmers In Canterbury had nine tractors operating on the (arms under their control. Many farmers owned as many as three, four, or even live tractors. One farmer, a confirmed sceptic, had been induced to buy a tmctor at the beginning of last season. At the last harvest, with a tractor and a 10ft hinder, and a three-horse team and a 6ft binder, he

had cut 50 acres in one day! The crop had averaged over 80 bushels to the acre. “New Zealand is one of the richest little countries in the world,” said Mr. Jones. The average wheat yield in Canterbury was 40 bushels to the acre. Canada could not pass 17 bushels; Australia, Argentine, and the United States considered 14 bushels an acre a good average; Russia was lower at nine bushels. In these countries, however, production costs were light, and the soil required little preparation or attention. In the dry climates, also, weed growth caused little trouble. In New Zealand, with its comparatively heavy rainfall, production costs were heavy, and the yield depended largely on the attention given the seed bed. Weed growth was prolific, and unless the soil received constant attention heavy production was not possible.

“The trend throughout New Zealand during the past decade has been toward increased production through the application of modern farming methods,” concluded Mr, Jones. “The use of mechanical power is increasing in the agricultural districts, while the increasing use of fertilisers is general. Working on these lines, New Zealand farmers are moving toward a great future.”