THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 9330, 3 February 1896, Page 6

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

-—'— ■*» ——• The past week has been favourable for harvesting, except on Thursday, when there was a high N.E. wind. Some of the wheat, which was cut rather early and on the green Bide, has not turned out so well as that which has been permitted to get quite ripe before cutting. In cool dry weather the cutting of wheat when on the green side is a safe and excellent practice, but the extreme heat and drying wind have caused the grain to harden prematurely, and will give a shrivelled sample. Oats are all cut and the harvest is' well in hand, large areas of corn being safely got into stack. Rain is greatly needed for twelve hours or so on the green crops and grazing farms. The loose state of the country roads would also be improved by a good shower to consolidate their present uneven surfaces. Our Ashburton correspondent writes: — " The weather on Saturday was very favourable for harvest operations, and all available strength was put on to secure the grain from damage by wind. As indicated in Saturday's issue, the north-westerly and northeasterly galea have done a good deal of damage in certain localities, the cereals suffering most being oats and bar ley. t In the most exposed parts of the Ashburton district wheat has suffered to some extent, but only in a few instances is the damage serious, and, speaking generally, -there is still every prospect of a good and abundant harvest. A few hours' rain would be of immense benefit to the root crops and pastures, the ground having become woefully hard and dry. Ashburton is usually a very busy place on the weekly market day, but the town wore a comparatively deserted appearance on Saturday last, the great majority of the farmers being busy working early and late in their harvest fields. (press association telegram.) WELLINGTON, February 2. The weather is again boisterous and thick. ' . - -. . .