Rye. 89 



RYE. 



A brief statement regarding- the use of rye in the Union in relation to 

 wheat conservation, together with a note on the subject by 

 H. S. Du ToiT, Government Agronomist. 



Although the Union produces insufficient wheat to meet its total 

 requirements, we have hitherto had no difficulty in making good the 

 shortage by importation from other countries. Once only in our 

 history, and that only recently, have we been compelled to resort to 

 the expediency of modifying our consumption of wheat because of a 

 deficient supply. This happened, it will be remembered, when the 

 Wheat Conservation Act of 1918 was enacted, which required an 

 admixture of maize or certain other cereals with wheaten flour in 

 order to conserve our supply of wheat. Apart from this incident, 

 our experience shows that under normal conditions we need fear no 

 difficulty in obtaining from other countries the wheat necessary to 

 make good the shortage of production in our country. But the 

 necessity of watching our wheat supplies with extreme care was again 

 in evidence a few months ago and much anxiety was felt, for 

 circumstances arose which threatened to cut off, in a large measure, 

 the usual oversea sources of our wheat supply, and the position became 

 so acute that the Government had to obtain supplies which otherwise 

 should have come into the country in the ordinary course of trade. 



That a large country which claims to be an agricultural one 

 should be dependent on other lands (economic reasons notwithstand- 

 ing) tor the bread of its small population, is most unsatisfactory, and 

 even with a return to normal conditions and a free supply of oversea 

 wheat and flour, it is a matter for serious consideration whether we 

 should ever be open to the necessity of depending on producers in other 

 countries to help us supply our daily bread. And the trouble need 

 not exist. The question is not one of short supply but of habit. We 

 produce sufficient cereal crops, notably uiaize, to meet not only the 

 bread requirements of our population but have a surplus for export. 

 But South Africa demands a wheaten loaf, and the need, moreover, 

 for any change in the composition of our loaf has, until recently, 

 not been seriously questioned. In the light of past events, however, 

 can we not, with advantage, now consider the introduction into our 

 daily loaf of a cereal in addition to wheat P If this were done we 

 could produce all we require and be in that independent position 

 which can view with equanimity circumstances which to-day would 

 make us anxious. Another point worthy of thought is that we should 

 also be relieved of sending large sums of money out of the Union to 

 pay for the products of other countries. The solution of our trouble 

 is simple : it can be brought about by a change of habit. Once create 

 the habit or custom of using a bread not necessarily all of wheaten 

 flour, the demand will follow, and production in the Union will 

 respond and supply the cereals required. 



The recent Departmental Committee on Wheat Growing shows 

 that greater wheat production in the Union cannot, for various 



