AGRICULTURAL.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume XXXII, Issue 8313, 29 February 1912, Page 7

AGRICULTURAL.

THE HARVEST IN ASHBURTON.

THE GRAIN CROPS.

Mr J Bruce (Seafield) threshed averages of 70 bushels of Garton oats, 42 bushels of Duns, and 23 bushels ot velvet wheat, from his farm this season. Vt Hinds Mr P. Holmes threshed do bushels of velvet wheat. Mr Bruce's averages are very exceptional for the Seafield district, which has rarely, it ever been known to produce such crops before. One of the first samples of wheat on the Ashburton market was shown a "Guardian" reporter this morning. The sample was taken from over 3,000 bushels of velvet, and was of a large, bold type, and very clean, healthy,.and bright. If it represented the average throughout the county the quality of the wheat will afford small grounds for complaint. 'Plenty of oats are now ■ offering ' but most of that arriving in Ashburton is to fulfil orders for forward delivery, of which there were many. As a large proportion of the business done is by merchants who purchase outright for speculative purposes, the terms, on which deals are made are not always disclosed, and the prices quoted frequently exclude important transactions. As far as commission agents go, 2s seems to be the usual price, i Harvesters are so . scarce in South Canterbury at the present time that they are being advertised for in outside papers., A Levels farmer sold the whole of [ his new season's wheat to a local miller lon Tuesday at 3s 5d per bushel, delivered Timaru. The same farmer disposed of his oats at 2s per bushel, but aonther sale has since been made at 2s Id. The advent of warmer weather has been the signal for general activity in the country, and a large proportion of the South Canterbury crops are in stook, while numbers of stacks have been built. Although, a week ago, the heavy rains threatened to do considerable harm in the district a spell of drying weather has improved the harvest prospects. Further south the crops are in a less advanced state. In North Otago, the buzz of the reaper is beginning to be heard, but nearer Dunedin harvesting is the exception, whilst the grain is further from maturity on the Taieri Plains.