THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Press, Volume LI, Issue 8730, 28 February 1894, Page 5

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

After a pouring wet day on Sunday and cold showers all through Monday, the weather has again cleared at Ashburton, aud threshing and carting to store was resumed yesterday. So far as the ingathering of the grain is concerned the harvest is now, with the exception of a little late crop along the foot of the hills, practically finished. There is an abundance of feed in all the stubble paddocks, the frequent rains having been mo-t favourable to the growth of the grasses aud clovers. While harvest operations are practically finished in the Ashburton district, there is still a lot of grain in stook about the Pleasant Point aud Fairlie Creek districts, in addition to a considerable breadth yet to cut. Harvest hands were never so plentiful as they have been this season, and it is feared the working man Will have a dull time of it during the coming winter. Many have come over from Aus* traliain the hope of bettering themselves, but many of them complain of not being able to get anything to do. Daily visitations are being made to private houses by men out of work, who go asking for food and shelter.

Heavy rain fell throughput the Temuka district on Saturday afternoon and evening, and throughout Sunday. The weather was squally, the wind varying from south to south-east. A good deal of snow fell on the ranges, and Sunday was a cold and depressing day. Monday was brighter, and towards the afternoon threshing was resumed. There is comparatively little crop unstacked, and - the damage done is trifling. Tuesday was gloriously fine;