THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Press, Volume XLVIL, Issue 7741, 22 December 1890, Page 3

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

DaEy the state of the grain crops on the dry plains becomes a matter for increased concern. In places (oar Northern correspondent wrote yesterday) the farmers have Riven up hope, and turned their stock into the early crops. Had the art of making ensilage been more practised probably a good deal of crop might have i been utilized in that way. Ie is only in the ! well-farmed spots, either on the margin of the hills or the fringe of the rivers that grain looks really flourishing. The best j districts this year show a shortage which which has not been experienced for four or five seasons. Iα some instances toe water-race system, which has been iong-talked-of, .would have proved a great; boon this year, and in some roaa districts farmers now ccc that if they had spent a little less on the roads and mom on drainage and water supply, 15 would have beenbetter for them. There Is bow, in spite of the dry weather, a feeUng adverse to the water races, on account* ox additional saxes, ,as people are t that next season there will be plenty of water. Meanwhile there is an almost onparalleled scarcity of water In broota and wells, 7 producing a state of affairs referred to in oar Topics of the Day at the begtanlnjz of the season, wherein a contributor drew , attention to a similar drought to 1863-