DHARVEST PROSPECTS.

Press, Volume XXXII, Issue 4485, 15 December 1879, Page 3

DHARVEST PROSPECTS.

■ . ■ ■ . —. —-» J I MIDDLE ISLAND.

' :" With the advent of December, the month. I of sunny■:; sky and harvest weather, an improvement in the climate of the past few months was naturally looted for. Up to' the date of writing, however, while we. have oxperienced a few days in which the mercury has denoted harvest heat, tho weather has -been anything but quite settled. Daring tho, last week of November and early part of this : month rain fell copiously, threatening floods is ill-fated spot*. A prevalence of three , weeks' dry "weather would now do no harm. The crops requiring forcing warmth and those ; slightly affected by rust would profit coneicFerably by ecoh a change. The Middle Island harvest prospects are at present exceedingly cheering, but in the history of ' settlement our agricultural affairs have never been more : 'critical or has so large en amount of arrears been brought forward against harvest returns.. Farmers: have sustained losses on crops of two successive seasons from excessive drought. ; . Last year this was more severely felt than in the previous season, 'for in the latter it will be remembered the rain I arriving during December revived the crops I on the verge of harvest. Neither season wae " the farmere'year," ac was the case in 1876, ; when the averages of the ieland were—wheat 23 bushels, oats 31 buehels, barley 29 bushels, and potatoes about 5i tons per acre. Last season's averages were—-wheat 18 bushels, data 20 bushels, and barley 20 buehels to the acre, which although taken from the Government returns was a somewhat high estimate. Harvest as a rule will be late, crops being very much checked by the cold weather of October and November.: It is generally hoped that the colonial harvest will escape the rainy reason which fell to the lot oE Great Britain. On laiade previously weakened by over-cropping, last season's failure has told to the advantage of this year, the rest or forced fallow afforded to the soil has contributed greatly to the straw of the present. The total area under crop last year in Canterbury and Otago was 610,542 acres, the average yield for the former provincial district being wheat tweaty-one buehele, oats twenty-five, andbarley twenty-one and three-quarter bushels per acre. 16 is anticipated that in these two largo grain-growing districts the area under crop (his season will be as large, if not more extensive, than last year, bub to ascertain this we have to await the publication of the returns. Here a word! may be said as to the period of their publication. Last harvest was well over in January, but the returns were not issued till the middle of March. This is a serious delay to persons interested in the results which sSfttiaties indicate. Of the Kelson crops there are only a few particulars to hand, but these apeak favorably of their advancement. Commencing north and proceeding south, the first large crop district is that included in the Aehley_ county between fche Hurunui and Ashley rivers, which last yeas had 132,783 acres in grain, grasse3 and potatoes. Here the wheats in the eentse of the district are well forward, particularly on the banks of the Ashley and Waimakariri. Everywhere the straw is the height of ordinary fences, and both oats, wheat, and barley have shot into ear. Blight has shown* itself is the Kowai district, but to a very limited extent. Tho Sehryn CDunty last year was returned as having the largest acreage in crop of any county in Sew Zealand, having no less than 263,740 acres, or within 20,000 acres of the total crop land* of the whole Otago provincial district. Throughout the Courtenay aisfcriota the wheat looks very well, aad apparently free frem attacks of natural enemies (sparrows exoepted). The Malvern crops are rather backward compared with more favored localities. There are several fine crops in the Btecartoa pardon of the county, as well as in the Templeton. road district. The Lincoln district, which usually carries a large crop, is this year well to the fore. Out to Southbridge, at Irwell, Doyleston, and lieeston, gome grand crops present themselves, and the Eilesmere district presents a flourishing appearance, few complaints being made of the vieissxtccSes of the season. The Mage of along the Eaksas afford evidence of great promise, and seem, as a rnle, to have profited by recent i-aina. The Ashburton Cfeunty has already been fully reported on. There were 248,074 acres cades crop last season, which has been largely increased this year. Several magnificent farms in the South Eakaia district give promise of large retuna, and have filso benefifcted by tha recent westher. To the Ashburfoa Winks these is a fail of extent o£ land undar grsiit. The Mount Hatt dietriefe gives Brami«e of a, large yield, whQ* feomUppeif AAburtcn tolk&ig*

ft 3 well as along tne Hinds and Bangitata, river*, &ere is an immense atea of healJby-looiing grain, chiefly wheat. The GkYaldine connty presents a largo extent of beautiful-looking crops. The return of !ut year gave 188,895 and this ye»r that quantity appears to beexeeedei. Hβ south bank of the BangHata, tnj» country watered by the Orari and Opihi, are sJI covered. The Levels district preeenfcs a grand sight, and as a role, while the grain is well ; forward, the cast has hardly made its appearance. The County of Waimate induaee a quantity of new land taken up this season for the first time. Last year it was computed 110,679 seres were in crop and grass. The ! Paxeora crops lock everywhere promising, while in the Otaio district there is the largest extent, end here nut baa made a temporary appearance on one or two of the farms. There ie a vast extent of crops over the 1 MaVikihi district, Waimato proper, and Hprth Waiho, which, at this aeacoßj looks better in appearance than, the grain did at this time last year. Along the banks of the Waitaki and Hekaterataea the same remarks apply. The Waitaki county south of tile river had 63,377 acres in grain last year, which will be increased upon this year by the fact of several sew faring being formed. The country out through Awamoko, the Lower Waitaki Dowas, and Maerewhenna, and from thence to Livingstone and Ngapara and surrounding Oamaru, which produces some of the finest grain in the colony, presents some of the best pieces of crops in the island. There is a. general freedom from rust and blight, and while in some of the valleys the wheat is backward on the level, on the hill sides and tops the crops look splendid. This part of the island is eminently adapted for growing the beautiful samples which were produced at the Oamaro Show, in fact it would be a reproach on the district if its farmers could not produce such bags of wheat and oats and barley presenting a bright color. The crops are well advanced in the county of Waikouaite, but the area is more limited than.in the lasb connty. There were here 18,997 acres last year, and. probably a like number this season. Around Palmertton both the wheat and oats are well forward, barley is grown only to a limited extent. The next county of importance for general Crop producing is the Taieri. The acreage last year hert was 28,439, and the yields were very good. There is a fair amount of crop out through Mosgiel and along the banks of the Silverstream whioh, compared to Canterbury crops, are about a month later. The rains here have caused a too rapid growth, and the straw will be" a serious drawback to successful reaping operations. All the East Taieri hundred was covered with crops, and on the Berwick side of the river there were several good patches. The Bruce county had 28,828 acres last year. This season there seems to be a good extent under grain chiefly at Waihola, near the lake at Milton, South Tokomariro and on the bank of the Glutha. The Olutha country last year had 1000 acres less in crop than the previous named county, but ibis year the West Glutha will swell the quantity. Along the railway line to Jnvercargill the Southland crops are seen to every advantage, and if the rest throughout that county may be so judged the recent much needed rain has produced on admirable effect in advancing them. A fortnight ago everywhere there waa an exceeeive dryness south o£ Milton, but the last rains have improved harvest prospects to a wonderful degree. This county returned upwards of a million bushels of oate last year, and a fifth of that quantity of wheat. There were 68,455 acres in crop. It is understood that the usual drawback to harvest here is the late summer weather and the early approach of the rainy season. Several large estates in which the Glasgow Bank had an interest are about being cut into farms and sold, and the otherwise naked land of this country ought to be made available for crops. The counties of Vincent, Maniototo, Lake Tuapeka and Wallace add to the returns of the crops of the Middle Island, but time has not yet allowed an inspection or the receipt of reports from them. ' The crops of grace this season throughout the .country are veiy heavy, in fact some of the crops it will be difficult to save, andothers have from their density Buffered from the wet, which has brought on mildew. ;-.,■-■■■■■. . ~ , Summarising our remarks, it may baeaid that the harvest prospects of the principal grain producing distrists of the Middle Island were never at this season more hopeful, and, as the harvest comes on, we trust it will be our pleasing duty to record their fulfilment.