THE CROPS.

Press, Volume XLVI, Issue 7262, 23 January 1889, Page 6

THE CROPS.

[BY OT7B COH-tSSPOSrrJSNTS.] ET-LESMERE. * ! 5-?-* erops P*»**Uy in the Ellesmere C^D ? v ery welL In the from Leeston to the Lake, _^^lif_lH wyn to Brookside, there are some very hea-y crops, of wheat and !£n££ „ A^ n »J eav »nK Leeston and tratt through Lower Killinchy, S£Lis-"?5 d a^ain towards Rakaia and ooutr±ond>e, from thence to the sea, the crops are looking magnificent. Of course [_ m J_!Vj e your correspondent v ! 3!? ak ? g for while in the neavy and swamp lands it U impossible to _r„__tP oor cr °P« on *h* lighterloamy soils seveTalpoor crops may be seen. Again, there are late patches, where the late November frosts did a large amount of damage, principally to oats and barley. The weather has been most suitable for filbag out the ear and grain of the plant, and wheat will be agood and full sample Bf* 8 ™ 1 ?- The crops in the immediate Yicmity of Leestonhavebeen favored by two e^r ». ne £T7 downpours of rain last week, which did any amount of good to the or ? pß, _3J; t strange to say, there was no ««-n at Ellesmere, Brookside, nor at a distance of three miles towards the sea. The H nor *- w ester on Sunday the 6th ult. m £ de , a n aam ber of heavy wheat crops sro on. Wherever the land is anywhere near toe shingle, or again, where the land was cropped out, the wheat commenced to go off ra patches, or, what it really does, ripens prematurely. Some of the wheat paddocks were affected very severely in this direc««V particularly the early winter sown wheat. Among a large number of farmers, another reason for this patchy appearance is given, viz., the result of the heavy frost experienced in November. This frost was so severe that it cut down the grain crops -31 over the district, and it completely withered or blighted the early or long winter grown plant, the result being a growth which produced a very meeelent and enfeebled plant unable to stand the test of a nor'-wester, except where the land has every advantage possible to give it. All through my travels I have not noticed a spT-ttgcropsoafiected. Thebirdsaiemaklng j a aad havoc amongst the winter, or early crops, and anywhere where there is a plantation or large fences, the heads are completely stripped for acres and acres. The small birds pest has reached such a magnitude this season that most vigorous means will have to be taken next winter, for their destruction, or in another season they will do more harm than a heavy nor'wester does. I bad the pleasure last week to drive a prominent business gentleman from Christchurch round the crops .in oar district. He was pleased and surprised to see tbe good, and (what he termed) wonderful crops. He confessed that he had no idea that there was such a grand-looking district, and although he Had been in every district from Auckland to the Bluff, he had not seen ■anything to equal the sight now presented. This season has been a •very good one for graziers, grass has been very plentiful, and there has been, and now is. feed in abundance all over the district. It is a sight to make one rejoice to see cattle and sheep up to their knees in clover and grass at this season of the year. The root crops are all coming On weJ, while peas and beans look •exceptionally good. In fact, the present prospect is one of abundance of every--thing. The rise in prices has produced a most beneficial effect on our farmers. They appear to have again resumed their .happy and hopeful appearance. I was informed that one large holder had 4s per bushel offered him all ronnd for this harve«t's production. 'When tbe crops are all looking so well it te a difficult matter to mention any special ones. Round Leeston Messrs Andrew Anderson, Alex. Webster, C. Smithson, Lochead Bros., P. O'Boyle, J. McConkey, G. Barker, Hogg Bros., G. McClure, and J. Osborne all have heavy crops of wheat, "most of which should thresh 60 bushels per acre, while Messrs H. Phillips. H. J. Hail, J. Doak, J. T. Gardiner, R. Hogg, D. 'McDonald have some ot the best crops of .barley, which will yield heavier than, the .wheat. _In the Southbridge and Sedgemere part of the district some magnificent .looking crops of wheat and barley, may be seen on the" properties of Messrs Inwood 'Bros., T. B. Howßon, T. Fincham, P. "MeEvedy, D. McMillan, and W. Gabbie. Messrs Inwood's crop of wheat is " -trpectslty fine, and is one of the best in the district. Messrs Gabble and Ruddock also -have acme- very good barley, which will yield heavy returns. . In the Upper Killinchy and Brookside district Messrs Cunningham. H. Washbourne, Jan., John Boag and T. D. Boag ■&3J bare several good paddocks of wheat 'a-wl-lsarley. The country from Brookside *1» Killinchy is very heavy peaty swamp •Isad, and here it is that the late spring ,£p-sts did the most damage. On the pro- - of Messrs Belton, Allan, Sander- \ -.spa and St-ckhouse it is a common thing ,4p .have a yield of seventy and eighty 'bushels to the acre of oats and barley, but this season, owing to tbe damage done by -the frost, the yield is only estimated * at some forty bushels. In a number Of cases the frost completely killed the young and tender, plants. In the Elleam ere district the crops are also looking very wen. Some especially good paddocks maybe seen-on Meadowbank (which is now under Mr Coward's care) at Messrs Chamberlain Bros', and Mr T. Jackson's. At Xrwell the crops are all holding out well, aad will come folly up to my former account. By the end of this week or the beginning of next harvesting will. be spwwy general. Several paddocks of oats assy now be sees in stook in different Baits of the district. Mr W, Holleyhas had a paddock of barley in stook about a -fotf&igbt. I noticed that at a meeting of the Dunedin Exhibition Committee it was decided to procure photographs of standing and cat crops. If the Committee care to visit the Leeston or Ellesmere districts ,-hey could photograph some of the, finest .crops, ever a man wished to set eyes on. There would also be no difficulty in obtain. ft-g' 'very *sitable backgrounds for the p-ctere in the shape of smiling homesteads and plsatatiors. Any step taken in this direction will need to be done quickly, as .itwiilnotbe many weeks before all the con wOlbaeut. RUSSELL'S FLAT. A fair area is under cultivation, and the .{sowing gram is, in appearance, better than it ha* been for years in this locality. Oats and wheat are growing in abont equal'quantities, and, taking all over, a-gmld yield better than usual. Several paddocks ere fast ripening, and the end -of-toe month will see the reaper in steady -work among the oats. Nowhere is straw ;f*ry long, but the grain ears are lengthy aesdplamp. The average should turn 25 for oats and-Oof wheat. SPRINGFIELD. In this district about the same quantity of -and is under cultivation as was last fte-soa. Oats are looking grand, with tbe exception of two or three late •own drops—these are very short fa the straw and light grained. "Wheat promises well for sample, but the crops ia places are uneven, which will detract from a good strong average. Mr Bedfarn's, Mr Seay*sand Mr Kane s fields Show tbe best growth, and should run nearly into the thirties per acre. All over t&6 Malvern district the late easterly ds-U weather has been of valuable asslst&see in filling the grain, and given a few WS-ks freedoms from the dreaded nor'waster, there will be a good average one of a superior sample. At Springfield the average can be pot down at 25 for wheat and 25 to 30 for oats. Boot crops look weH. . ANNAT. More land in this district is under cultivation this season than for some years last. A few crops, where the tilling was marled, are short and poor, but the majority will afford a good return, judging oy present prospects. The heavy winds of three weeks ago were a drawback to some Of the best grown oats by breaking them down in parts, and stripping the blossom from some wheat crops, which had the effect of stunting the grain in the ear, but as the harvest promises to be a fortnight later than last year, the damage done is not generaL As usual, Mr Ferguson can boast one of tbe best crops all over that is in the whole district. His oats, especially, sho-M give a prolific return. Messrs Jade and Taylor are also fortunate in their prospect of. a good yield. Averaging this section of the district, threshing should show 30 to 32 bushels of oats and about 27 of wheat. Boot crops are not as good as usual, WADDLNGTON. More land under crop than last year, *ad taken as a whole, they are remarkably even and well grown, promising a strong ■average .of a good plump sample. The harvesting of oats has already commenced ,1a early sown fields, whose owners are •anguine will run over 30. In nearly all 'S-rta the straw is short, bat very sturdywhite the grain heads are extremely well - flsweJooed, At Westwood a rood yield is

a certainty if weather permits saving; also at Mr George Rutherford's Pine Grove Farm a Heavy return is anticipated, the wheat showing a beautiful sample. Mr Banner also owns a pretty paddock of oats, part of which was dressed with artificial manure as an experiment. This portion of the crop is in marked contrast to the other, and tbe threshing result will have a strong- bearing on future cropping hereabouts. It is already certain that the manuring of our lands will pay handsomely. Several other owners close by will bear gladdened hearts if they are granted a few weeks more steady weather, and this locality should attain about the highest average on the Malvern plains. We place wheat at thirty, and oat 9 thirtyfive bushels. Roots are also looking exceptionally healthy and plentiful. SHEFFIELD. Nearly all tbe cultivated land about here is in the hands of one owner (Mr Deans), who has a fair extent in both oats and wheat. The latter is not an even crop, but should turn out 23 bushels per acre in conjunction with other small lots around. Oats are better, and look likely for a 30----bushel crop. KTMBERLEY. As in former years, the district shows a varied and unaccountable prospect, from very good to the opposite extreme. Some farms, notably Mr McClelland's, are a picture, and would be a fortune in themselves at Sydney just now. Cropping has had extensive attention, and if the farmers escape the former visits of hail and wind will give over an average yield. A lot of oats are in stook, and in a few days stacking will be in full swing. Wheat is fast ripening, but the body of it will not be touchedfor about three weeks. To strike an average requires careful handling, but oats ought to touch 25 to 30, and wheat about 25 to 27. Roots are largely grown and look very promising. RACECOURSE HLLL AND DARFIELD. Here cereals look healthy and strong as a body, although some paddocks are patchy, which will go a long way to spoil their average. Wheat is the principal crop, some of the Tuscan showing a splendid sample. Oats are rapidly coming under the • machine, and will provide a good average crop. If anything, thy '•= more crop than in 1888, and the thres ing announce better 'results com ively. The district is a large one, extending to the Hawkins, and contains some inferior and badly grown paddocks, but the yield should run quite twenty-five of oats, and twenty-three of wheat. Turrips are in good supply for the winter. WHITECLIFFS. There is bat little cultivation in this district, and that little is on the west side of the river, and consists mostly of oats. Wheat is very sparsely grown, and only for local use. Oats look healthy and well headed, will average about twenty-three bushels.