THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LIV, Issue 2837, 8 January 1904, Page 2

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Yesterday morning some beautiful rain began to fall and continued during the day to the delight of most residents. It is true, it stopped some of tha early cotksfoobing ; bub iv all other ways it has done an immense amount of good. The feed has so withered in the last fortnight in tne watershed and Little River side that the yield of milk has decreased more than one third, and never has rain been more anxiously anticipated. !In the Eastern Bays feed is still plentiful, they having had a much larger rainfa 1, and the lamsb are doiDg wonderfully well on that side. The cocksfoot on the higher levels has never looked better, aud large crops of heavy seed may fairly be reckoned ouj on the hightsb lands. The lower crops cannOb be improved now by fresh moisture, as bhey are matured as far aa they can be, ex.ept in places where the straw is nob quite dry a.d the seed may be swelled a little. In any case the rain is tho btst desideratum and must do moro good than h_rm, and its advent will be welcomed most heartily. The u-.ual influx of cocksf.ob hauds ia taking place, but we bave heard nothi g of either a superabundance cr scarcity of labour. Tha season is very early and another fortnight ivill see cutting iv full swing, as the warm rain at present fallitg teuda to ripen the orops more speedily.