THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13612, 22 December 1909, Page 5

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Karvest operations have already commenced on the Cauda Instate, l>uru>anUi'.. owned by .Mr i). \\ . where a wry inco crop ot autumn barl«i" is being reaped. In, a low days ctiif-r farmers will be reaping sonic eaiy paddocks of oat.s. Haymaking :s goiivral, but the windy weatner of the P-ist lew day*, has tieLayed the work somewhat. Generally Speaking, noi njuc:i harvesting wni he tune* untii uK'.t tiu> hoiuiavs. ltain us needed for the turnip.,, rape, and root crops. . f--seevd.ng!y div .iiui hot weather > oeu-g exp.-i lt nreu in tiie Methven district at p:\.>ent. The slight rainiaii <■' the 18: a ln -t. ha.s disappeared, and grass paiidneks. ctspeviaily on the l -";,' :or s, "ls, are beginning t<i assume a yt-innv. hue, and art- generally showing ii!?ii< of dw:,*s. Theie i» every :m!iCut ion of an early harvest, and far--1:101 - that owing to the heat ruling at present, the gram will be very lean and ind.tiereniiy tilled. A low* paddoei s of autumn-sown oats will he reai'y for cutting .shortly after New ifar, and harvesting will l>e general in tho dutriet about the end of January. .Shearing will soon l)e completed, witii tlip exception oi the stations up the Rakaia and A*h burton Gorges. lr.day of « h.ch are only now making a start. Plenty of labour is still ottering, and shearers in search of work are (taily p;:.-?ing through .Methven township. iSeveral householders in Methven are complaining that the tanks froinwhicli they draw their water supj)y ! for domestic use are almost dry. and some aro forced to carry their water from the large main race which runes through the centre of the township. At present the dry spell shows no signs of breaking.

Tli" late rains are having beneficial effect in maturing the grain crops in the Waikari. Hawardon. and Mason's Flat districts. The rape and turnip are also looking well. Shearing is just about finished, and in view of t'.ie high price cf wool and the splendid apppiranro of the crops, farmers are locjking forward to a profitable season. (fRESS ASSOCIATION , TELEGRAM.) GORE. December 21. To-day was the hottest but on" for the past thirty years, 92 degrees being registered in the shade at noon. The previous record was 325.