COCKSFOOT AND GRAIN.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIII, Issue 2746, 3 February 1903, Page 2

COCKSFOOT AND GRAIN.

The weather has been most uncertain during the past week, and from Sunday morning to Saturday night no less than 2.68 inches of rain fell. The mean temperature has been exceedingly low, and fire, have been enjoyed in many houses, in spite of it being midsummer. The rain, however, has been intermittent, aud a great deal of cut' ting has been done, and this week it will be common all jover the Peninsula. All available labour appears to be employed, but we do not hear of any outcry for more hands at present. Many of the crops are reputed as exceedingly good, and the jnumber of bags per acre will be large, but much of the seed is comparatively light, owing to the long continued wet weather and consequent strength oi the straw. What we now want is a long continued spell of hot dry weather to get the seed thrashed and bagged. Had Friday afternoon been sunny, there would 1 we been some thrashing done on Saturday, hut it was too oold and damp. No damage hrv i yet been done to the seed by the rain that lua fallen, for it is the moist, warm muggy weather that discolours the seed, and mak 38 it germinate, and we have had none of tint. Though we have not had the frosts of Curistohuroh and North Canterbury it has been—as before stated—very cold, as well as wet. j

The oats an J other cereal orops grown on the Harbour aide of the Penidsula and Eastern Bays have done exceedingly well. Speaking of the other Bide of Barry's Pass, a writer in the '•Times " lays " Through Gebbie's Valley the crops are in a forward state, the thrashing machine being already ab work, and, generally speaking, the returns are most satisfactory. Duriogjmy visit ono farmer thrashed 87 bushels of ryegrass per acre, and this on very ordinaryiquality land. Grazing is chiefly tbe objeot in view until Kaituna is reached. This is the estate of I the Parkinson family, and is noted for its

grain producing qualities. Enormn,,., „._.M_, have bagged :from the V-t£ ««?_«! occasions, and this crop will STi very favourable return to the vSs oL* ers Although Mr Hamilton has bee relied to reap a crop of barley'- B omeS soon, to prevent its destruction) by <££~ p lars, he will still have a very good reeurn ah round. Throughout the whole vXvT estimate a yield of 56 bushels per acre 7