WHEAT IN WAIRARAPA

Wairarapa Times-Age, 20 April 1940, Page 6

WHEAT IN WAIRARAPA

ANALYSES OF RECENT CROPS. 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 the Wairarapa stands pretty constantly at about 1000 acres, but it has varied from 1400 acres harvested in 19.35 io 965 acres harvested in 19.39. In the harvest of 19,39 there were 70 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 are not yet available. The distribution of crops is almost, exactly what it. would be on the better land of Canterbury. The yields in 19.39 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 beI cause 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. In the previous harvest Hunters was 10 bushels above Tuscan. It. appears that the land is being used for 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 intermediate and Tuscan on the lightest. Jumbuck has fallen outof the running entirely because the Wairarapa soil and climate do not suit I this variety.