290 WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND 



suitable data. No farmer with whom I came in con- 

 tact was able to give me any record of yield for more 

 than a very few years, while there was almost a total 

 lack of rainfall statistics. The Statistics of New Zealand 

 do not give sufficient information for an intensive investi- 

 gation. The yield records refer to a whole Province, 

 while rainfall is measured at a few widely scattered 

 meteorological stations only. Until reliable information 

 from many centres is forthcoming, a satisfactory solution 

 is not obtainable. The hope for this lies in the future, 

 but meanwhile we have made some suggestions.* 



I had also collected some information on temperature, 

 and wind, in the wheat growing area, but unfortunately 

 it was found impossible to get complete data, and as the 

 official statistics were open to the same objection as those 

 for rainfall, an attempt to ascertain correlation was 

 abandoned. 



On all these questions relating to the association 

 between general climatic conditions and the wheat yield, 

 much valuable information is being collected from year 

 to year at the Canterbury Agricultural College. Some 

 of this I have set out in graphic form elsewhere. t 



4. Some Suggestions. 



But although we are far from claiming for our investi- 

 gation the merit of comprehensiveness, there emerge 

 from our work, as far as it goes, certain definite con- 

 clusions not without value in stimulating an industry, 

 the prosperity of which largely conditions our national 

 economic welfare and general well-being. 



In the first place, farmers must devote more attention 

 to scientific practice. Intensive methods of cultivation 

 with a systematic rotation of crops have proved most 

 effective, and should convince the most conservative 



"See Chapter III., page 46. 

 tSee page 44. 



