MID CANTERBURY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13378, 20 March 1909, Page 9

MID CANTERBURY.

Just as matters were fast approaching a crisis in various parts of tho Ashburton eiistrict, "and it was becoming a question as to whether the recent spell of dry, hot weather would not upset all the bright anticipations that had previously been entertained with respect to a bountiful supply of late autumn feed, and at least early winter feed for stock, a great and muchneeded rain set in about 11 p.m. on Thursday, and continued to come down heavily all through the night. Up to 2 p.m. yesterday the fall was 1.36 m. It was a mild rain, with an absence of wind, and as the ground is now hot after about a month of bright days, the pastures will quickly recover themselves, and there will be a rapid autumn growth of grain and clover. Rape and kale will come away again, and turnips, mangolds, and swedes will be given a fresh start. The check will in all probability, cause some of the root crop_ on the lighter lands to be somewhat woody, but this will he better than having them go off altogether, as would havo been the case in many instances had tlie rain held off for another week or fortnight. They had becomo badly smothered with aphis, tho tops had gono off, and in a number of instances tbe bulbs had commenced to rot. Large areas of turnips and rapo were presenting a sorry and parched tip contrast to what they were like six weeks ago, and so acute was tbe outlook that farmers were becoming extremely anxious about the prospect for winter feed, but the present timely rain has immensely brightened the whole aspect of affairs. In the early part of the season our Ashburton correspondent predicted thnt the farmere were going to have a most prosperous year, but up to Thursday night the outlook for the winter feeding of stock was none too hopeful. It is now, however, vastly improved by the rainfall, ami our correspondent repeats his former prediction with renewed confidence. Ideal weather was experienced all through tho lambing, thero was a great growth of vegetation right up to February, and the grain crops generally wore never better since the first furrow was turneel on the plains. Certainly shearing was much delayed owing to the frequent rains, but eventually all flockraasters got through without any serious loss of time or trouble with the men, though there was a little grumbling now and then. The earlier harvested grain crops suffered somewhat owing to tbo excessive rains, ami the grain, when first put in stack, was very soft, but the splendid weather experienced during tbo past four or five weeks bas been its salvation. Should the weather continue reasonably mild during the next four or fivo weeks, the grass will have time to make good growth before winter sets in.

Writing last night, our correspondent said :—"The rain which commenced to fall at Ashburton on Thursday night continued all through to-day, and will be of immense benefit to the district. Late this evening the weather showed signs of clearing. The rain has been general throughout tho county. Opinions differ as to the effect of the recent drought on the turnip crops, but a well-known Kyle farmer to-day confirmed mo in my own opinion that the present timely rain will cause many of the crops to make a fair recoverySome of them, of course, have gone off very Vdly, but this applies only to certain paddejeks and certain localities. In any case the rain has come very

opportunely, ami though it would have boon more welcome a fortnight earlier, there is yet time for thc pastures to make- a fair amount of growth before severe frosts are likely to set in."