HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7253, 12 January 1889, Page 5

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

ASHLEY COUNTY.

aad there v a marked increase on the ? rou 5 d M at P rese "c, which, U Iβ to be hoped, the agricultural returns w ?l not be long in fulyestablishing. The extent of crop and yields of 1883 were t-HoXga, 1306 acres in sown grasses afterbeinir ploughed 156,434, in viousiy ploughed 14,9(53 SresTta hay minimam included in either of the tmo foregoing returns, 3S*4 acres; land broken up and not under crop 8738 acrea, under crop 70,603 acres, in wheat 32,588 acres, in oats for grain 19.557 acres,in barieylOOO acres, in rye 62 acres, in peas 1015 acres, in beans 2011 acres, in oats for green feed 4335 acres An potatoes 15M acres, in tamips or rape 12.51U acres, in mangold 3210 acres. The total yield of grain was:—Wheat 750,500 bushels, oats 4y,5,,i»J bushels, bariey 28,223 bushels. For the ares of the coonty, the yield per acre was the best in the colony. Tne yields this year, as alreadystated, exceed those of last year, but untu the corn is safely garnered it is hardly possible to say exactly how far it is over. In November it waa anticipated that) the straw would be short, and the lateness lv ripening, then indicated by the lack of solar heat, gave the impression of only a moderate yield, scarcely up to the average. Recent growth has raised the most sanguine hopes of a very abundant harvest. The rapidity with which the gram is maturing threatens to give its enemies — especially the small birds— an exceedingly limited period to make their onslaught. That there exist thousands of sparrows loitering about the fences speculating on the harvest quite as much interested as we are is an ondia* puted fact. Persons may blame the Road Boards tor having given the small bird nuisance a respite tnis year. There haa been a general freedom from rust or blight, though, of course, there do exist one or two patchy crops which will be only available for the pigs or to be ploughed in. Nothing like heavy ram has threatened to spoil them, while at times there has been intense heat. During the past fortnight nothing approaching muggy weather has tended to discolor or cause mildew. In the various out districts the farmers find themselves confronted with a fair amount of straw. This, however, is now a source of profit, where a score of years ago so soon as the threshing was finished it would be immediately botsed out of sight. Great diversity of opinion exists in respect to harvesting machines in general use, a reaper and binder which one man would swear by another farmer possibly alleges he should memt allow to come nigh - his premises. This state of matters is very helpM to the interests of the machine merchants. As a matter of fact, some o£ the machines have decided advantages on light crops, while others excel ia heavy ones, and prove failures in thin fields. According to the weight of his grain, a prudent agriculturist will select the harvester which ought to prove of the <a bee& service. Having noticed that the yield of grain will reach a high average, the sama cannot be said of grass seed crops. The majority were checked by the weather, and did not get a chance to mata.ro before the seed ripenad. There are some very fine yields, but these prove to boexcep* exceptional. Crops of clover, cow grass, and. alsyke have.done fairly well, these stood in need of forcing weather ia Da» cember. Several excellent crops of this nature are expected to give out good returns. One enterprising firm here imported a proper machine for dressing this class of seed. It is therefore expected that, owing to the industry of the humble bees, there will be sack a yield that a little export trade may be started with this year. One or two formers last year obtained an excellent re* turn for sale of clover seed; which, however well dressed, had to ba prepared with crude appliances, and nothing like the quantity will be saved which the specially-imported macMae will secure. Pea cropa were slow in starting; the weather has not favored them to any I amazing extent. Beans, on the other hand have come forward remarkably "weH, it being quite safe to predict that tlicy will be a prolific crop. Some of the ftaeso fields present themselves at Waik&ka, Wbodend, Sefton, and on Kaiapoi Island* Potatoes have, through recurring frosts fas spring, been rendered patchy by the plants failing. In the last tea days fcbss® hm& gone ahead, there being tho appearanceof a capital yield. : .' oxioED. r A considerable extent of this road district is laid under crop, advantage being taken of the landa benefited by tha waterraces. This season the supply of moistore in the soil naturally has been well raaiatained, but it is evident that an extension of the artificial system of irrigation woald bring into cultivation a wider area of the Cropping lands. Last Sunday's nor- ,- wester threshed the barley crops some* what, but the wheat and pats stood well up againsfc the wind. The estimated yield of wheat and oats Iβ from 25 to SO bushels per acre, over about 3500 to «M* acres. The largest crop seems to be that of oats. ;■ , . ' CUST. All over this fertile district, where t&# cropping has .even gone on several yeaaw in succession, there is a magnificent pros* pect on both banks of the Gust and away to the east and weafc. The preponderance of crop is certainly wheat, and between wheat and oats with a smaller proporfcfoa of barley covering about 400 ft to 4500 scras. The average for wheat, still on the gpem side, is 25 to 30 bushels, some of it reaching 40and 45 bosheis. Qate rapidly ripening, 23 Duehels per acre, some of the pa*£<socJ£& giving a better prospect tlum others. WEST EYRETO2T. Coming to the alluvial deposits of t&® Eyre river there are several very fca» farms of wheat, which in the largest crop. Here the spring sown hae f ajrly overtatoo the autumn sown, and both promtee a handsome • return at the. threshing machine, which is estimated at from 85 to 40 buabels per acre. Oats will probably reach 30 bushels on present appearaaeea, and barley 25 to 30 bushels. The estens of laud in grain crop may be estimated aft from 3000 to 4000 acres, the whole of wfaJca is in splendid condition. Oats qoleSrfy ripening, and the wheat on the green mdc, BANGIORA. There will be an extent of from 6000 fco 8000 acres of crop In fcttls district taia season, the whole of which Is in ftrst-el&ss order, many of the farms affording tbe greatest pleasure to tbe eye of ta® visitor. ThroKgh Feroside the wheats Imk amazingly well, oat crops are forwsra. and barley wiU soon be ready lor mfMR& In the central part of the distriefc, mm Coldstream across to Soutbbroofc ttera are many tromiaiug fields, the .karje** returns of which we shall be glad toptem at the proper time. Woodend acffl W«S" kuku present heavy crops of wnsss, «® well as magniflcent fieidsof b«sss. Towards Flaxton and J&o yields will also be good, frosnthe feet i&ss recent inundations of the river here eariched the soil, though anfortanafeely. teV it haa left a legacy of weede. Some of tM crops iv this district will go up to w bushels, and atraw SCe to Cffc. Tfee &X<f»fg for wheat is estimated at from w*®, 45 ; bushels per acre; oats, 35 to £0 basw*»» barley, 30to 33 bushels. T&a wfwte of to grain is on the green side, aud possible to form anything like an «*»•*? for the beans, althoughthere,«# fields which would do badly tt.M_H? not give a return of from 50 to &> J3**s»» per acre.

ASHLEY. There will possibly, at a »# B gS in wheat and oats pnaeqiigg very well,«» asa^e^ a ? r! SS , a f r £aU pssta, tion. Oats feat rijjeateg 0? fSrtoight fee *«wwtew -gWM» ft »wia« among tbe wiwaS. £ length <il stow, and to 89