WHEAT IN WAIRARAPA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 19 April 1940, Page 6

WHEAT IN WAIRARAPA

ANALYSES OF RECENT CROPS. I — AVERAGE YIELDS FOR. PAST SEASON. The Wheat Research Institute each year analyses the threshing returns showing varieties and yields from different districts, so as to advise farmers of their most profitable varieties. The area of wheat in Ihe Wairarapa stands pretty constantly at about 1000 acres, but. it has varied from 1400 acres harvested in 1935 to 965 acres harvested in 1939. Tn the harvest of 1939 there were 7G crops distributed as follow:—Cross 7, 31 crops; Tuscan. 23 crops; Hunters 19 crops; Jumbuck. etc.. 3 crops. It is certain that in the harvest of 1940. Cross 7 had increased, but the figures arc not yet available. The distribution of crops is almost exactly what it would bo on the bettor land of Canterbury. The yields in 1939 were as follow: 31 crops of Cross 7 averaged 30.1 bushels per acre: 23 crops of Tuscan averaged 28.7 bushels: 17 crops of Hunters averaged 29 bushels. Cross 7 yields more than Tuscan because it tends to be sown on better land because of its stronger and shorter straw. Hunters is only slightly better than Tuscan, which is unusual. Tn the previous harvest Hunlers was 1(1 bushels above Tuscan. It appears that the land is being used I'm- the most suitable varieties, and that the normal practice is perfectly suited to the conditions. That is. Hunters is being sown on the heaviest land. Cross 7 on the in!< rnicdiate and Tuscan on the lightest. Jumbuck has fallen out of the running entirely because the Wairarapa soil and climate do not suit. I this variety.