27(i THE farmers' handbook. 



shells readily, because it has bo be ke.pt until it is dry enough to strip. At 

 Glen Innes, on the other hand, it can be cut at a stage when it still holds its 

 grain well, and allowed to mature in the stook, with the result that it yields 

 very well. Others also of the varieties successfully grown in New England 

 nve liable to shell if left until dry enough to strip. 



Bleaching is largely prevented by cutting with the reaper and binder, for 

 wheat that is left until ready or the stripper is much more likely to be 

 damaged in this respect. 



The straw also is of much better quality when cut with the reaper and 

 binder, for when ready for stripping it has become little more than fibre, 

 whereas cut at an earlier stage it still has a good deal of nutriment in it, and 

 is accordingly better feed for stock. 



Four essentials to successful wheat-farming in New England may he 

 mentioned: — 1. Suitable soils; 2. Suitable varieties ; 3. Sowing at proper 

 times ; 4. Cutting the crop at the right stage. 



The Cost of Production. 



In presenting the following estimate of the cost of producing an acre of 

 wheat under New England conditions, it may he pointed out that it is based 

 on the experience of Glen Innes Experiment Farm and of farmers generally 

 in the district. 



Costs have not advanced in recent years in this district so much as in some 

 other parts of the State. One or two factors of a specific kind have been 

 responsible for this. Ploughing, once done in New England with heavy 

 single-furrow or double-furrow implements, is now being done with four- 

 furrow implements on many farms. In part, this is due to the implements 

 used being of lighter construction than formerly. Time was when a two- 

 furrow plough was a very heavy thing indeed, and farmers hesitated to try a 

 four-furrow one, but to-day better and lighter models of four-furrow im- 

 plements hardly involve any more horse power, and farmers are more disposed 

 to use them. Stump-jump ploughs are prefeired in stony paddocks. 



The depth considered essential to best results is also less than it used to 

 be. It is now found that nothing is gained by ploughing too deep on the 

 heavy clav soils of the tablelands. In other words, the use of better imple- 

 ments and methods has almost kept pace with the increase in the cost of 

 labour in ploughing. 



Estimated cost of producing an acre of wheat for grain in New England — 

 Estimated yield, 20 bushels. 



Ploughing, once (land previously under cultivation) 

 Harrowing, twice at Is. 4d. per acre 

 Drilling 



Seed, 75 1b. at 7s. 6d. bushel 

 Superphosphate, \ cwt. at 7s. cwt.... 

 Pickling seed at 4d. per bushel ; 14^ bushels per acre 

 Cutting with binder ... 

 Twine, 5 lb. per acre at 8£d. lb. 

 Stooking for grain 

 Carting and stacking 

 Bags, seven at 8s. per doz. ... 

 Threshing at 2s. per bag 

 Rent, one year 



Cartage to rail, 5 miles distant, at 5s. per ton ... 

 General depreciation, and interest charges on horses 

 and plant 



Total cost of 20-bushel crop... ... ... £4 4 4 



