CROPS IN THE ASHBURTON DISTRICT.

Press, Volume XXXIX, Issue 5679, 30 November 1883, Page 3

CROPS IN THE ASHBURTON DISTRICT.

[from our correspondent. I The weather in the Ashburton district during the past three weeks has been the very reverse of settled. There has been some sunshine and a few warm days, but cold, blighting winds and rain have predominated. Unfavorably, however, as the prevailing weather has been for the general comfort of pedestrians and the promoters of agricultural shows, it has -till had a surprisingly beneficial effect on both agricultural aud pastoral land. Throughout the Ashburton district farmers generally were late this season in getting their ploughing ■ done, and consequently correspondingly late in getting the seed sowing machines at work. After this, and when the grain once began to show above the ground frequent and continuous cold blighting winds had the effect of greatly retarding the growth of all cereals, and up to within the past three weeks indications of a late harvest were pretty general all through the district between the Rakaia and Rangitata; though there were a few, and only a few, notable exceptions of small areas of wheat having been got in early despite all drawbacks. The late rains have been more than usually excessive and frequent for this time of the year, and have been somewhat cruel on newly shorn sheep, aud in not a few instances fatal results have followed the customary operations on lambs not required for stud purposes. The rains, however, have had a wondorful effect on the appearance of the country generally. During the past three weeks the growth of both feed and cereal crops has been most marked, and, given favorable weather henceforth, there is every reason to believe the labors of the farmer will be rewarded with a bountiful harvest. At this time last season there was abundance of feed everywhere, and just now the pastures are equally luxuriant ; indeed, rather surprisingly so, considering the extreme scarcity ef feed during the late winter and early spring months, a circumstance which resulted in the grass paddocks being bared to the very roots. In the Wakanui district the crops are looking well, but a little thin and backward in places. There are, however, several paddocks on the beach road, close to the town, well forward and looking remarkably healthy; and a number of paddocks which yielded good crops of wheat and oate last year are now covered with a luxurious growth of grass. Throughout the Wheatstone, Flemington, Waterton and Longbeach districts there is scarcely a genuinely poor paddock of either wheat or oats to be seen. In some places the grubs have caused ugly breaches, bnt generally speakingfthe crops are all looking remarkably well, showing strong growth, good color, and in most instances unusually free from sorrel and other weeds. The grass has come on splendidly, consequently feed for both sheep and cattle ia abundant on all sides. The luxurious feed in the Flemington district is having a beneficial effect on the supply of milk to the Cheese Factory, and notwithstanding the reduction in the price now paid per gallon, Mr Harding reports a daily supply of over 700

gallons, and naturally, at this time of th year, the fluid yields a satisfactory-pei centage of cream. A stranger visit--] Flemington would not at first sight b impressed with the idea that it would eve become the centre of even a moderate popu lation; but it is, nevertheless, a township— at least, the Government maps so designate it—and it bids fair at no distant date t have a genuine claim to that somewha vague colonial distinction. The only sign of a township at present are an unlicense-public-house, a couple of smithies, a gocx school, with an excellent master at it head, an enclosure for the temporary im prisonment of stray cattle or sheep, saint dozen scattered dwellings, and last, but bj no means least, the institution with whicl the name of Mr BowrOn is so intimatelj associated, and the opening of whicl was inaugurated some fifteen months ago with the inevitable luncheon indifferent champagne, and the drawing of a cheque for some £40 to cover the cost of the inaugural ceremony. During Mt Bowron's lecturing tour, and also on the occasion of the melting of the £40 cheque; this renowned butter and cheese enthusiast predicted great things for the future of the Flemington farmer, and dwelt largely on the increased value the establishment of the cheese factory would put upon the land. So far the farmers have certainly no cause to regret following Mr Bowron's advice, and up to the present the growing of grass and the milking of cows has been the means of enabling the farmers to handle a good deal of ready cash at the end of each month. They are at least an enterprising and thrifty community, and evidently not at all averse to giving a new industry a fair trial. Some tiun* since Mr Davis, of the Canterbury Linseed and Fibre Company, visited the district, and the arguments he used in favor of the growth of European flax have already borne fruit to a pretty considerable extent, a few of the farmers in the Flemington and Longbeach districts having determined on giving flax cultivation a fair trial. The machinery for a flax mill is now on the ground, and being placed in position in the immediate vicinity of the Cheese Factory, so that ere long Flemington will be able to lay claim to being the centre of two very important industries. Some ef the flax now growing in the district is looking very well, notably a few acres of Mr William Anderson's, close to the Flemington Schools. Mr Bobt. Anderson also has a few acres promising well. Other farmers who are giving flax growing a trial in the district are Messrs Dudley and Northey, J. Bishop, Smith, Holland, Fleming, and Messrs Davis, Gale and Taylor, of Waterton. Several of the above gentlemen have had considerable experience with European flax in the old country, and are thoroughly conversant both with the proper method of growing the flax and its treatment after it has matured. It is to be hoped that this new enterprise will prove remunerative to all concerned, and especially so to the farmers who so readily agreed to encourage the establishment of a branch of the Linseed and Fibre Company's operations in the district. In addition to the above, the Ashburton Woollen Company's works will shortly be in full working operation, and given a good harvest into the bargain, the season of 1883-4 will mark no unimportant epoch in the annals of the town and district generaUy of Ashburton.