THE WEATHER AND CROPS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXIX, Issue 7391, 22 January 1908, Page 3

THE WEATHER AND CROPS.

Phenomenal and variable weather conditions have prevailed in As'hburton daring the past few months, the average daily temperature being the highest experienced within the memory of the oldest residents. On Monday evening, and, in fact, right throughout the night, the atmosphere was intensely heavy and oppressive. Although yesterday was somewhat pleasant, the heat to-day was again intense, the atmosphere being quite hazy, as though j enveloped in a cloud of smoke. Judging by the unusually hot weather experienced in various parts of the dominion, the heat wave now being felt so acutely in Australia has arrived in New Zealand. At 1.45 to-day, the thermometer in the Domain registered 94 degrees in the shade. At 2.15 this afternoon the temperature had risen to 97.5, and was still going up. At 2.45 p.m. the temperature in the shade had reached 99.8 degrees, and was still rising. The highest temperature recorded for the day was 99.9, which is the record for the season. Mr A. McFarlane, of Springburn, has just returned from Geraldine, and states that the temperature was as high as 106 degrees in the shade there today. The minimum temperature in the Domain on Monday night was 54 degrees, and the maximum 84. A farmer from the hills district states that while driving to town today, ashes settled on his face and clothing on various occasions, which he attributed to the presence of a fire in the back country. The manager of the Lagmhor estate evidently intends to have a plentiful supply of feed with which to finish off his lambs and freezing sheep. At the present time there are between 1500 and 1600 acres sown on the estate in thousand-headed kail. Owing to the large proportion of sugar in this plant, it is said to be specially adapted for quickly finishing off lambs and sheep, ihe agricultural sub-manager of the estate stated to a reporter that the clover plants are beginning to show signs of springing in growth since the recent rain; and with another good downfall, and a continuance of weather free from drying winds, there is a prospect of a winter supply of feed being assured. So far, the Lagmhor estate lias not disposed of any lambs for freezing purposes this season, but the stock, as a whole, is in'a well-for-ward condition. About 3QO acres of oats have been harvested on the' Lagmhor estate this year. This has all been stacked, and the agricultural sub-manager (Air Bell) puts the yield down at between 35 and 40 bushels per acre. From the 300 acres, 32 large stacks have been built. The greater portion of the oats will be kept for chaff, the manager (Mr H. Ford) being a firm believer in keeping a plentiful supply of stock fodder for finishing-off purposes. Although the profit that might be derived from the direct sale of the. oats may thus be lost, it is more than counter-balanced by the drafts of heavy-weight sheep and lambs that are annually sent away from the estate for freezing purposes. Two years ago, Mr G. A. M. "Buckley, of Lagmhor, sent out two varieties of wheat new to the dominion. They are known as the "New Era" and' the "Red King." Mr Buckley, who secured the varieties in England, states that they liave both been known to yield over 100 bushels to the acre; but, no doubt, the conditions were exceptionally favourable, and at least different from those that prevail in New Zealand. Anyway, although a prolific yielder, the lied King variety does not appear to be suited for a windy country, as it is so easily shaken; the New Era, however, has found much favour at the hands of a number of farmers under whose notice it has been brought. This year there are 130 acres of the New Era sown on the estate, and it is estimated that it will yield from 45 to 50 bushels per acre." In addition to this, there are 170 acres on the estate sown in solid straw Tuscan, and although this class of wheat takes n lot out of the soil, but, !ike the New Em, it is not easily ishaken by the wind, and it is therefore specially suited for this county, where strong winds frequently prevail •■liM-lua; the harvest season. A farmer at Spreadeagle informed a reporter of this paper that although j his crops are much better than they \vere last year, tho yield will be much j i.-clow that recorded for any ordinary ! season. "Two years ago,' he said. "J ' reaped 90 bushels of oats per acre, and this year ]'estimate that my crop will run slightly over 40 bushels per acre. Of course," he concluded, "the crop two years ago was an unusually heavy cm©/' '