240 WHEAT PRODUCTION IN NEW ZEALAND 



can be successfully developed, for there arises the im- 

 portant problem of ensuring sufficient and satisfactory 

 pastures. The small farm on which mixed farming is 

 practised offers a solution for the difficulty. At present, 

 however, the farmer has awakened to the fact that sheep- 

 farming or dairying, where it is possible, offers a greater 

 return per unit with probably less actual labour and 

 worry. It is becoming more and more evident that in 

 the immediate future our wheat supply will be endan- 

 gered by the allurements offered by pastoral pursuits, 

 in spite of the fact that with current prices wheat pro- 

 duction is not unremunerative. In view of these facts 

 the writer has been forced to adopt the opinion that our 

 attitude towards the wheat industry should be radically- 

 altered. To this we shall return in the concluding 

 chapter. 



Note. After this chapter had gone to press, the results of 

 an experiment carried out on the Leeston Soldiers' Settlement 

 by the National Efficiency Board were brought under the notice 

 of the writer. The following statement is an extract from 

 "The Press" (Christehurch) of May 6th, 1918: 



"With a view to throwing some light on the much-debated 

 question of the cost of wheat growing, the Ellesmere County 

 Committee of Advice to the National Efficiency Board recently 

 asked the Lands Department for a return of the cost of wheat 

 growing on the Leeston Soldiers' Settlement, formerly the 

 property of Messrs. Holley Bros. The information sought has 

 been furnished to the Committee by the Commissioner of Crown 

 Lands, and by Mr. W. Holley, who acted as honorary supervisor. 

 The area sown in wheat was 98 acres, and the yield averaged 

 27 bushels to the acre, which is considered to be at least two 

 bushels above the Ellesmere district average for the season 

 just concluded. The statement is as follows: 



