WEATHER AND CROPS.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 13909, 7 December 1910, Page 6

WEATHER AND CROPS.

The Oamaru rain-makers are ready (says yesterday's 'Otago Daily Times ) to "test the efficacy of the theory that explosions in the presence of ramcharged clouds will caUsi? the heavens to give down their moisture, but the continuance of cloudless days has precluded any possibility of success. Even should tlie rain come now, welcome as it would be to all, its effect would be lost on a great proportion of the crop, which is now entirely beyond redemption. There yet remain a few fields that would be worth the cutting it they had the assistance of moisture now, but they cannot much longer withstand the effects of tho long thirst.

Two Pareora farmers, Messrs McKeown and Fraser, brought to the Timaru •Herald'" office three small bundles of heads of wheat, as fair specimens of a large amount of their wlie.it crops, and as showing how much they had been damaged by unfavourable weather conditions. These were samples of Bordier, Velvet, and solid straw, The amount ol damage differed in the parcels. The solid straw heads are extremely weak throughout; the other two have completely failed in the tips— from 30 to 40 ]x>r cent, of the head. Messrs Milveown and Fraser stated that the wheats had been given every chance that tillage and manure could afford. .Similar land in the district last year yielded an average of 40 bushels per acre, but on present appearance will not give more than 2o this year; and it" more rain does not come soon, not even that.

There was a light rain in the Ashley County on Monday evening, but the hopes that it would last all night were not realised.

From Cromwell comes word that the intense heat and burning winds experienced for some time past are playing havoc with the crops that promised an excepthnal return. They are ripening before the heads are properly filled. The yield in some portions of tho district (tcl-igraoh.s our Dun>din correspondent) will be nearly -50 per cent, below what it promised.'Of course, this dry weather is excellent for shearing, which is general throughout the district, but shearers arc scarce.

A hot nor'-west wind blew at Ashburton un till neon yesterday, when the sky became overcast, and there was a heavy shower of rain shortly after one o clock. The recent rains" had a most beneficial effect on the whole dis tnct, and many parts of it*are now looking very promising. Above Winchmore, and all tli3 way through to Methven there is an abundance of feed, &omo luxuriant crops of grass and red clover, and many paddocks of wheat, which are promising an average of fully forty-fivo bushels to the acre. There are also some good crops to be seen through tho Barrhill. Corwar, and Highbank districts. The crons, too, away down through the Willowby, Flemington, and Lowcliffo districts have made a remarkable recovery, and there will be many good average yields. Tho light lands on various portions of the plains will give poor yields, but the outlo-ik generally throughout the A.-h----burton district is infinitely more hopeful than it was a month ago, and with another fall of rain matters will still further improve.

Harvesting has commenced in the early oats crops at Dunsandel. The dry weather experienced has had the effect of making these operations earlier than usual. In the usual course of events the paddocks that are now being reaped were originally intended for sheep feed. Mr D. T. Wraight is reaping a crop of Algerian oats, which should make nice chaff, while Mr George. Lill is also harvesting a crop of oats of the same kind. In the course of a few days Mr J. Sowden will commence cutting oats. The small bird is playing havoc with the early crops. Harvest will not be general for some weeks to come, and from present indications it will not last long. Yet in many resbectjß this (yeans may be a. more payable one, than last year's, as there will not bo the quantity of-straw to handle, which means a good deal of expense to the grower in the way of labour. Rape is coming on well, so are mangels and other root crops.

Th 6 effect of the dry season upon the Peninsula (says the "Akaroa Mail") is now inevitable. The rainfall falls short of ; the average for the past Vthreo mdnths by. many inches, and in-many cases, especially on the low country, the cocksfoot will come to nothing. The effect of the rainless season upon the cocksfoot harvest has been to force on early flowering upon a short, stunted stubble, and in the case of paddocks close upon the sea level it has rendered them not worth harvesting. On -he higher lands the paddocks present a much better appearance, and in some cases the yield ought to •be good, and quite lip to the average good season. The dairy farmers have also to face a large . shortage. The milk yield is generally about one third.short of last year's yield, and the milk tests are very poor indeed. The factory outputs show a large decrease everywhere. The Kinloch Settlement, which has always been recognised as very poorly watered, is suffering from the continued drought, which is becoming a serious menace to the settlers. The same can be said of most of the badly watered lands of the; Peninsula. This general shortage in the Peninsula's output will tend to reduce the extraordinary value which Peninsula land lias reached during the last year or two, as those who have . paid large prices for land will fail to i get interest for their money, and will recognise that they cannot reckon upon prosperous seasons every year.