THE WEATHER AND THE HARVEST.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8707, 1 February 1894, Page 5

THE WEATHER AND THE HARVEST.

In the fine weather o? Tuesday* and Wednesday the work of harvesting in North Canterbury has been pushed on. All the reapets and binders .which «a,u be gob into the service are now in the field, and some of the farmers have'ventured to cart the grain, so that the stacks are going up. The crops have quickly dried, but the oat> straw in many instances will nob be fit for chaff.

Tho weather in the Malvern and Horor&tft dietriota has been extremely varied duritsg tho pact tea days, and shearing operations .have been much retarded, so muota so that on several of the large stations nob more than half the sheep have been ehorn. The weather in the back country baa been extremely eevere for the time of year, and heavy ehowers of hail and eloet tell on Sunday and Monday. The change to the bright sunny weather of Tuesday and yesterday was very weloonio to all classes. At Greervdale the weather co far has been very unfavourable for harvest work. " During the past ten days/ says our correspondent, "we bare had several very heavy raine, so that those who have finished reap* ing have not been able to proceed with stacking. On Monday a heavy hailstorm passed over the district, but fortunately it ,was not of great width, although rain fell heavily pretty generally over the district. I have seen two crops where it is estimated that five bushels per acre have been beaten out by the hail. After, the hailstorm tho temperature fell, and a good breeze sprang up, so that co far no great damage has been, done to the wheat. The weather now seems more settled than for some time, and w.itb two or three days like to-day (Tuesday J the wheat would be in good order for stacking; for although some of it has been cut for ft fortnight there has been no weather to dry it, notwithstanding which some fanners are now to be seen stacking. From what 2 have seen, yields will be unsatisfactory, a* tnost of the wheat is affected by rust, Ik come crops quite one-third of the heads are blank, and the heavier the crop tbj more the rust has a6fect«d it. There are some fine crop of turnips to be seen,, the plant having in moat instances struck well, the weather being favourable for this crop."

-Fine weather still continues and great progress is being made with the harvesting of the grain in the Ashburton district. 8o far the rain has not done any very serioue amount of damage, while it boa had a remarkably beneficial effect on the pastured and root crops. Feed is still very plentiful and most or the turnip crops are well tor' ward and looking very hearty.