THE CROPS.

Press, Volume XXXI, Issue 4177, 17 January 1879, Page 3

THE CROPS.

COUNTIES OF --BALDINE AND WAIMATB, As will be seen by the following report, a large proportion of the area sown in grain in thesa counties has suffered somewhat severely from the drought" Some of the crops, however, are exceedingly good, and the average yield, though probably less than previous years, will be a very respectable one. The late rain has done comparatively little harm to the grain, and has benefitted the pasture land exceedingly. The following detailed account is appended :— G_BA_DINE. The crops in this district promise fairly well, though in some cases individual loss will be heavy. The average yield will run less than laßt year, as, owing to the long drought, the grain will be small and shrivelled and the ear badly filled. TESITTKA. There are a few nice crops to be seen in this district, but the balk are below the average in appearance, especially further inland. Oats have apparently suffered very much from tho dry weather, and the rains have come too late to benefit them. KAKAHTT. Being nearer the hills the crops in this district have stood a better chance of an occasional shower, and consequently look better. There are some very nice paddocks of wheat to be seen, which are estimated to thresh out thirty-five to forty bushels per acre. W-ITOHI AND POINT DIBTBIOTS. These districts promise a fair return, though the net result will be far below what might have been expected with an ordinary season. Seed time was very favorable to farmers, but the drought destroyed their anticipations, and in many cases stock were turned into the | crops to eat them off. -EVKXS, PLAIHS, AND KBBB- TOWIT DISTBICTfI. The appearance of the crops here is very , miserable, and the bulk apparently will not pay for harvesting. A-BTJE. AND CATB DISTBICTS. The prospects of harvest returns are very good and some really fine crops are to be seen in these districts. The Albury district has always borne a good reputation as a wheat growing one, and this season, notwithstanding the long dry weather, results promise to be fully up to tbe average. TIMABTT. Generally speaking, the crops on the Timaru Downs promise fairly well, with the exception here and there of unmistakable evidence of bad farming, though the total yield, both of wheat and oats, wiil be below the average of former years. -WAIMATB AUD WAITAKI. The acreage in thete districts is in excess of what it was last year, and the bulk of tbe crops look exceedingly well, and with anything like fair prices returns should be satisfactory to growers.