WEATHER AND CROPS.

Press, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14294, 4 March 1912, Page 3

WEATHER AND CROPS.

AN UNEXPECTED SOUTHERLY

After a comparatively long spell of fine weather a cold snap was experienced on Saturday. During the morning the weather was fine, though threatening, and about one o'clock a light drizzling rain began to fall, accompanied by a strong wind from the south-west. As tho afternoon wore on, the rain increased in volume, and continued fairly incessantly till early yesterday morning. Tho cold, for this tirao of tho year, was very appreciable, and tho day was like a winter's day, the city streets wearing a desolate appearance. Tho cricket matches, and several other outdoor fixtures, wero postponed but tho Now Brighton Trotting Club's Meeting was proceeded with, as was also tho regatta at Kaiapoi. Saturday's rain appears to havo been genoral throughout the southern part of tho South Island, and will further delay harvesting in thoso districts where tho crops havo not vet been got in. Yestorday, the wind changed to tho east, and tho weather was unsettled, light showers falling during tho day, and tho skies being cloudy.

After a splendid week's harvest weather, a change took place st Rakaia, at 9.30 a.m. on Saturday, when a strong south-easter, with heavy rain, came up, and put a stop to all outside work. During the week, a large area of crop was threshed or stacked, and a considerable quantity of grain has been delivered at the railway. Samples of oats, in some cases, are not too good, as they havo been cut too much on the green side.

Very heavy rain camo on in the North Canterbury district on Saturday afternoon. It was qiiito unexpected, as tho barometer readings in tho dis* trict were in favour of harvest weather. The rain put a stoo to and threshing, and it will bo a day or two before the urain is dry enough to bo handled.

Our North Canterbury correspondent reports that showers continued during most of yesterday, and the impression is that some of the grain will bo damaged.

Mr M. Twiss, of Southhridgo, had a paddock of Garton oats threshed last week which averaged 100 bushels per acre.

From a forty-acre paddock Mr W. Young, of Irwell, has threshed a crop of Hunters wheat which averaged VO bushels per acre. This is the tenth crop this paddock has produced in twelve years.

Harvesting in.the Goraldine district received another check on Saturday, when a heavy rain from tho south-west set in during the early hours of tho morning, after a week of fine weatherWork was pushed on rapidly during the week, and a great many farmers did not scruple to take advantage of a favourable day last Sunday to get some stacking done. Stook threshing has been the rule, and good yields are reported, oats generally averaging VO bushels an acre. Although most ot the crops are cut there are several paddocks in different parts of tho district not yet ripe, and even with the most favourable weather it will be a week or two' before the harvest is finished.

The rain which commenced to tail at Ashburton early on Saturday morning continued throughout the day and the greater part of tho night. .Showers thon fell at intervals till about throe o'clock yesterday afternoon, when the sky began to clear. The total rainfall up to foiu- o'clock yesterday afternoon was 1.25 inches. This will mean a further delay in harvesting operations, and will put a stop to all stook threshing for some days.

Our Invercargill correspondent telegraphs that blight has made its appearance among the Southland potato crops, some of which aro affected very badly. In northern districts, it is said, the tubers are in many instances seriously affected, and it is thought by some people that later in the season potatoes will become fairly dear.

A Timaru telegram states that light rain on Friday night was followed by very heavy rain on Saturday, and it must hamper harvesting operations and tend to injure the crops. A good deal of the crops has been got into stack, but much is in stook' yet, and thero is a smaller quantity yet to cut.

(I'RESS ASSOCIATION TELEGBAIO WELLINGTON. March H. Steady rain, with a southerly wind, set in yesterday and continued to-day, though there are indications of an improvement this afternoon. Cricket and other outdoor fixtures yesterday had to be postponed.