SPECIAL TO THE PRESS.

Press, Volume XLIX, Issue 8360, 20 December 1892, Page 5

SPECIAL TO THE PRESS.

FROM OUR OWN CQRRESPON&EmSL UNSEASONABLE MELBOOKSE, December 14. V<»iyjTrtraor'^ war y wex£hsr for t-h R t&oe weekm¥iefcor», wbidb-li&s not improved the harvest prospects. High winds, storms, Mid heavy rains hsvo ocenrxed since Saturday hssfc and have been very alarming to fanners, bat the shaking of the crepe h*a been imossveaea than anticipated owing to their 006 being dead ripe juafc yet 33ie very <x»M«Bperatore prevai&ng has retarded-tire ripening of ttte crops, bat as a slew aad gradual maturing of cereals is known, to be adxantageoos the smgalarly cold weather of the week may hove its compensating features. The agricultural reporter of the Australasian states that as the season advances, and the more he sees of the crops, the more he is pleased with their appearance aad progress towards maturity. Ail through the important districts of Boorfc, Wycfaeproofj Donald, Korongvsie, Inglewood, and St. Anurad* sad r%ht into the Mailee Country, he speaks of the yields expected as being spJeadid and unsurpassed in aayjarewoce years. Iα the inland districts the stooka aatd half-finished stacks appear to have suffered from the rain and lashing winds of the past week, while the crops in the late or coastal districts have been knocked down and tangled to a serious extent, yet no excessive damage from these causes has beea reported from any of the main wheat producing areas. There is only a alight sign and faint apprehension of rust, so th»t generally speaking the rust disease may be put oat of the reckoning,. and this year the harvest in Victoda-cer-tainly promises to be the best on record. In New Sooth Wales Mr Coghlan, the Government Statistician, estimates that the harvest will yield 7,176,000 bushels, which five an average of a little short of 16f ushels to the acre. This is the largest on record, the nearest approach to it being 6,570,000 bushels obtained for the season of 1889-90.