WHEAT CROPS

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 February 1940, Page 6

WHEAT CROPS

SOME SPLENDID YIELDS THIS REASON. INTEREST IN TAINUI VARIETY. Some splendid crops of wheat have been harvested in the Wairarapa this season. The season generally has been a favourable one for grain, a fact which is reflected in the high yields recorded. Probably lhe best wheat crop around Masterton was that grown by Mr Harry Evan’s, of Upper Plain, which yielded 68 bushels to the acre. This crop, which was of the Hunter’s variety was well above the average. Yields of 50 bushels to the acre were fairly common. Considerable interest attaches to the growing of the Tainui variety, for the first time in this district, It is rather soon to form a definite opinion about the possibilities of this variety in the Wairarapa, as the few returns available are inconclusive. Tainui is a most deceptive wheat in appearance and in most cases has yielded considerably better than appearances had led one to expect. The weaker straw character of this wheat may make growers a little doubtful of its ability to stand up in a wet spring. Last season was an exceptionally dry one. Known yields of Tainui include one of about 55 bushels to the acre and another of 51. The latter compared favourably with a yield of 46 bushels of Cross Seven grown in the same paddock. One or two of the later crops suffered a bit from the heavy wind. A considerable incresae in the number of wheat crops grown in New Zealand was recorded last season, so much so that lhe Dominion is almost selfsupporting in this respect. Mr R. McPherson. Wheat Controller who visited the Wairarapa a few days ago expressed the hope that a further increase would be recorded next season in the number of wheat crops grown locally. Oat crops have also been threshing out well around Masterton, but the majority is going into stacks for chaff. Rape and turnip crops are looking fairly well, and a number of red clover seed areas look exceptionally .good. Hay crops on the average were lighter than usual, as the rain did not, come in time, though it fell at the right time for wheat and other similar crops, and filled out the grain nicely.