THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Press, Volume LIV, Issue 9812, 23 August 1897, Page 2

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

In the North Canterbury district the weather has heen showery during the past week, and a good deal of progress has been made in preparing for sowing spring wheat. A few fine days would enable this to be completed. The autumn sown grain is now rapidly springing, aud there are or.ly few instances of failure on the part of the crops to sprout. Indications go far to raise good anticipations for the success of the crops. On several farms lambing has been going on for a week or two, with satisfactory percentages. . Our Dunsandel correspondent writes:— A most welcome rain fell here on Monday night and Friday morning, the heaviest we have had for five months. The early-sown crops were beginning to show a yellow appearance. There appears to be a good area put in crop this season. The grass has commenced to spring, and a few days' warm weather will give it a different aspect. Steady showers of rain fell at Ashburton at frequent intervals on Saturday. Never have farmers in tho Waimate county, writes our correspondent, been so discouraged by the want of rain during winter as they are at the present time, and not only farmers, but householders generally —who usually like to see a dry winter—are anxions for a general downpour. For nearly ten months Waimate has not been favoured by a good rain, and as a consequence not only are dams and creeks dry, but wells that have given constant supplies for over thirty years are now exhausted, and even after being deepened 20ft or 30ft hut a poor supply is obtained. Between Waimate and St. Andrew's, and from there up the Pareora to the foot of the hills, the ground is as dry as dust, and grass j looks a3 completely burnt up as though it' were the middle of summer. Within tho district mentioned above not a blade of crop is to be seen. Although some of tho wheat has now been in the ground over four months, the most of the seed is in the same condition as when sown. Stock on the sea frontage and downs are looking anything but well, and on a few of the farms some early lambs looked so miserable, and the ewes so weak, that it would have been better had they not made their appearance until a month later. Around Waimato, The Hook, Makikihi, Waitaki and Waihaorunga districts the effects of the dry season are easily seen—grass bare, turnips fiaished, and no green blade of crop showing above ground, and the stock looking bad, excepting the sheep that are just off turnips. On a few farms and stations under the foot of the hills the stock are looking remarkably well, the dry weather evidently suiting the land at the back of the Hunter Hills.—Since writing the above we have been favoured with two days' light rain, which has penetrated the ground sufficiently to give vegetation of all sorts a good start, consequently farmers'spirits have again risen, and they seem one and all to be pervaded with a spirit of thankfulness for the beautiful rain.

(PRESS ASSOCIATION TF.MtGRAM.) GREYMOUTH, August 22. Arthur's Pass and the Otira Gorge are still blocked with snow.