The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1885. PROSPECTS OF GRAIN GROWING.

Temuka Leader, Issue 1408, 22 October 1885, Page 2

The Temuka Leader THURSDAY, OCTOBER 22, 1885. PROSPECTS OF GRAIN GROWING.

We hare so frequently pointed out the folly oi thinking that wheat-growing is »♦ an end in this colony, that we feel a hesitancy in referring to this sutjf-cl again. But when we find public men, and others who ought to know belter, still clinging to this erroneous idea aa tenaciously as if it brought lh-rn any comfort, we may be pardoned for laying once again some facts before our readers which must dispel this delusion. This is the great argument used against borrowing any more money to complete the I'imaru Harbor Works. It was held that wheat growing would not pay, and that Innc forih the export trade of the I,i»rt would consist principally of wool and mu To those who taka only a supi. ficul glance at things this may appear fi-aeibie, allbough it is undoubtedly erroneous. In our opinion there is not the slightest danger of the grain industry : it is bound to flourish ; but wo are not so curtain about either

frozen m<«t <>r wool. It it imi ost.il>! that the pric< j of wheat c«n remain as low as it is, because it is bo low that it cannot pay to prow, and consequently people will not continue to grow it. The low prices ruling at present will result in a tireh.t diminution in the production of wheat, the supply will run short, and juices will go up again as high as fvcr th*y were. The same argument will not apply to the Inz-n meat and wool industries A former can easily case to grow wheat, but he cannot so easily give up growing meat and word. He must sorap use of his land, and cannot afford to give up sheep. There is therefore very little prospect of n diminution in the supply of wool and meit. The production is so great now that it has replied in lowering prices, and if it remains na at present we cannot see how the prices of" these commodities can go up. With regard to wool and mutton, our products are certainly superior to what the countries with which we have to compete can supply, but their superiority is counterbalanced by what it costs us extra to place, them in the London Market. In wool and frozen meat we have no advantage over other countries, but in the production of cereals we are, placed in the proud posi tion of being able to defy the whole world. There is not in the whole universe a country that can produce as many bnshels of wheat to the acre, as New Zealand in general and South Canterbury in particular. To prove this we append the following statistics, compiled from books written by Sir Julius Vogtl, and Mr G. VV. Gdffin, late United Statps Consul »» Auckland :

JNow u ;ti»'sa figures cannot MttiMj those who look so gloomi'y on tlit? future of New Zealand as » grain-grow-ing county, nothing can. Wln'ie other countrieb still adhere to o'd-faskioned implements we the. best labor-saving machinery that can be got ; while other countries have to manure the land we need only to plough it up and put in the grain ; we haTfl every advantage i' is possible to have, and consequently will be able to grow wheat profitably when it will not pay to grow it in other countries. We stand preeminent with regard to grain growing ; we possess no such advantages as regards frozen meat and wool, and on these grounds we hold that, the prospects of the former industry are far brighter tbßn those of the latter. The extraordinary grain producing capability of the soil of New Zealand has attracted the attention of the world. A few years ago the agricultural societies of the Australian Colonies sent an agricultural chemist named R. W. E. Mctvor to examine the soil of New Zealand so 68 to ascertain what properties it possessed that rendered it so productive. Since then a deputation of Australian farmers have visited us for the purpose of pursuing similar investigations. They were surprised at the results produced. There is therefore no need to he afraid. We have the finest country in the world, and it is our fault if we do not make it a rich and prosperous one.

Busheia per acre. Country. .._ . Wheal 1 Oats. parley. . -1 1 1 N<;w Zealand 31.5 38 35 9 Victoria ... 15.5 22.2 21.9 New South Wales 14.7 18.7 20.5 South Australia ... 12 16.7 14.1 Wefitern Australia 12 16 16.80 Queensland 13.89 16.58| 17.82 Tasmania,.. : . 1M 25.4 27.8 Great Britain 27.5 — — Nhtnl 10.8 — 13.2 Cape 8.9 — 15.4 Cmada 10 — — Rufwia 5.5 lfi.6 8.0 Greece 13.2 19 18,8 Norway 22.1 30.3 35.7 Bavaria 16 3 22 5 21.1 Wurteinburg 181 29.3 21.2 Holland 28.4 41.9 44.4 Belgium •20 3 41.2 34 9 France 13 4 23.8 187 Portugal 8.9 18.6 1 11.1 Austria 12.5 16.2 13.5 Hungary 8.6 16.5 13.6 Egypt 15.4 — 20.2 Unitfid Si sites 12.3 22 20 6