FARM NOTES.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 8047, 16 December 1891, Page 5

FARM NOTES.

Our Malvern correspondent writes:— Fanners who have got turnips in are having a tantalising time just now, O3 these root crops are ia urgent want of rain. With the exception oi a alight ahower or two this district, as a whole, has had no rain for a fortnight, althougn the weather has threatened lor several days. Last Friday and Saturday heavy thunderstorms broke on the ranges, and gave Hororata and Greendale a drenching for a time, to the delight of the agriculturists in those parts. As ttie dense ba.uk of black clouds passed along speculation was indulged in as to whetner a hailstorm would distribute its favours, but fortunately this fear was groundless. Wheat is pretty generally out in ear, and looks in really good heart, excepting a few lots on lighter soil. Rust without a doubt has found its way into some good paddocks, but not to auy great extent. All the Homebush wool has gone to market, by road, Mr McLaren taking the whole clip, 300 bales, in three tripe, with his traction engine, not ths least hitch occurring during the removal of the weighty parcels. Somo of the larger farmers are getting clips ranging from 7jjlb to of c'ean wool, independent of the skirtings. Another survey is being made just .now of the proposed water - race to be taken troin the Waimakariri about Woodstock. The promoters will be able to glean some very pertinent ami advantageous knowledge from the experience of the contractors who cut out the Gorge Bridge race, and should be able to get their work done at less cost on these points. The hot dry weather is making thoso who will benefit by the water anxious for the race to be put in hand early, but the necessary formalities demand time and patience. The farmers, however, hope to see the water at Eyreton by next eununer. Our Methven correspondent, writing on the 11th inst., says:—A very heavy thunderstorm passed over here this afternoon, making an agreeable change in the temperature, which had been very oppressive for several daye. Shearing has made good progress during the late hue weather. Grass is very abundant, and ehoep are in grand condition. Crops are looking well, though some of the earliest and heaviest are attacked with rust.. The fly has been busy with the early turnips, some crops having to be resown.

Our Ashburton correspondent writes :— Heavy showers-were experienced iu the Ashburton district during the past week, further benefiting the cereal crops on * the lighter lands, keeping the pastures green with an unusual flush of feed, and greatly benefiting the turnip crops all over the district. The prospects of an abundant harvest have never been more promising, and in many instances the yield will be more than double that of last year, particularly so with respect to the lighter lands through the Dromore, Chertsey, and Seafield districts. All through what is usually known as the Wakanui district tbe crops are looking simply magnificent, and there will be some very heavy yields, notably on Mr Nicholas Fitzgerald's farm, Mr John Cochrane'a, Mr Sam Scott's, Messrs Chalmers Bros.', Mr Malcolm Millar's, Mr Jamieson's, and others. Mr George Lamb, who has a very nice little farm a couple of miles outside the town boundaries, has some splendid crops of wheat and oata, and just at the preaent tinw* —ji... 4>^r—- wa vmfc The prettiest sight and the best and heaviest crops of wheat to be Been just xiow perhaps in the whole of New Zealand are growing on Mr E. Gates' land, Grove, Farm, Tinwald. There are three twenty-acre paddocks thac are a perfect picture of marvellous fertility of soil, The Tuscan wheat is standing between live and six feet high, with long heavy heads, the whole crop being remarkably even and as level almost as a billiard table. These paddocks have before yielded over seventy bushels per acre of wheat, and the year before last one of them yielded at the rate of 122 bushels of a good sample of oats to the acre, but the wheat has never looked so magnificent as it does just now, and with favorable weather from this time till it is safely in stack Grove Farm will this year put up a phenomenal record. A little further over Mr M. Redmayne has some splendid crops of wheat and oats, the whole of his farm presenting a most promising and gratifying sight. Mr John Cochrane, of Elgin, haa some very _.ce crops indeed, while in front of his pretty villia, like residence he has had a magnificent show of roses, together with a large variety of other spring flowers, a show of bloom that would do credit to any nurseryman's garden. Our Waimate correspondent writes:—The last fortnight haa been most favourable towards the growth of crops of all descriptions. Genial showers have fallen at sufficiently close periods to keep the ground damp enough to pi-omoto all kinds of vegetation. Wheat; oats and barley are now in full ear, and iu all casea where crops have been early Bown they look exceedingly well, but those which have apparently been sown on poor laud and later in the season do not give promise of good results. At Waihaorunga, Elephant Hill, VVaihao Downs, and in the Redcliff district wheat and oats are both looking well, especially a paddock near the Waihao Forks, belonging to Mr A. Allen, for which we understand an offer of £6 an acre has been refused. Seeing that the land was bought at £6 10s an acre such good results must be gratifying to the proprietor. Rye is now coming into general use as winter food, and in some cases where sown besides oats and barley the verdict has been strongly in its favour. I have noticed a number of small patches in various parts of the district, which after being fed off have been let go for seed, and in all cases good yields will result. It is maintained that the rye will grow in poorer soil than any other white crop, and 1 feel confident at no distant data every farm in the neighbourhood will have a small patch of it. Grass is now abundant everywhere, and the showery season will help to keep it going. Turnips are already well forward, aria in a number of cases have got over their infantile troubles, and are now safe in the rough leaf, and from the attacks of the fly. They also appreciate the weather, and give promise of large returns. Potatoes and carrots, of which there is very little sown", appear to be coming on well, and should yield abundantly. There should soon he- asificient land in the market to satisfy the requirements of intending settlers, as the fine property of the Waihoa Downs ia soon to be offered in nice sized farms. It is also rumoured that another large property will be offered in, small - sized blocks, while a large station in the neighbourhood is already for sakt in one block. A Government surveyor is at present employed near Mo_*_ St____m surveying Crown lands into cq&ycs—sntly sized Mocks for small grazing runs. The first section of tho Weilte-Waitaki water race scheme is now completed. Tha "North Otago __tes" toys r—The rainfall of Friday night was heavies, at K-arow an_ lightest in the southern part of the district. At Kurow it fell steadily for four hours, filling the lagoons, and in some {__ ea waabutg oh annuls throogh the growing crops. __row, usually dry, haa been fortunate in tha quantity of ram that has fallen this season. The rainfall of Saturday night and last night, which was apparently general over the district, will do all that farmers were anxious for —give sufficient mc—ituro to fill out the grain- We can now __est confidently look forward to s fair general harvest.