THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LIII, Issue 15793, 8 January 1917, Page 5

THE COUNTRY.

NOTES AND NEWS.

SOUTH CANTERBURY CROPS.

A GLOOMY OUTLOOK

(•riCIAL to "thi riiess.")

TIMAIMJ, January 6

Mr J. Talbot, at a meeting of the Timaru Branch of the Farmers' Union to-day, said that some few weeks ago he had stated that there was a reasonable prospect of there being a good average crop of wheat- in sight, promising a yield of up to 30 bushels per acre, but that a good deal depended on weather conditions during the then succeeding two or three weeks. Since that time he regretted to say that the conditions had been most unsatisfactory—about as bad as they well could be, last month being one of the driest and hottest they had ever-experienced. The result was that the expectations entertained at the beginning of December would be largely modified, and he was of opinion that for youth Canterbury they would not expect the results to be much, if any, better than last year. The .yield pertainly oould not exceed 25 bushels per acre. The earlysown crops had plenty of show generally speaking, but they were ripening in a patchy manner and prematurely. Crops that should not hare been ready tinder favourable conditions for at least a week or ton days yet, were now being reaped. Any crops of wheat sown in the spring would be very light, and the yield could not excccd. even if it could reach, an average of 20 bushels per acre. As to the oat crop, it was, comparatively speaking, a failure It Would be the lightest they had had for many years; indeed, he did not remember ever seeing so poor a crop before. The spring-sown crop of this cereal could not now he expected to result in a yield of more than 20 bushels per acre.' The hot and drying weather had also burnt up all pasture lands very seriously, and had swept away any chance df an average turnip crop* so tlsat the present ontlook for suitable feed for fattening stock was gloomy in the extreme. The rainfall for tho year would have been ample had it been spread more evenly over the whole, twelve months. The past three months had been drier and hotter than the corresponding three months of last year. JOTTINGS FOR FARMERS. One result of is very noticeable throughout the agricultural lands in Hawke's Bay (says the "Herald")The farms round Argyll. Tikokino, Onga Onga, and Takapau before the war at this season of the year were always showing abundance of crops. To-day lees than 500 acres are under crop, where previously easily four or five thousand acres were prodnrimr oats, barley, or wheat. One regrettable feature is that the farmers agree that a better season has never been experienced in Hawke's Bay for many, years, but the uncertainty of the labour market is the chief cause of the farmer* not taking the advantage offered by Nature. CULVER DEN". A musical evening was held at Cirlverden on Wednesdav evening, to sav farewell to Mr F. Fredericks,' of the local postal staff, who is on transfer to Ashburton. Mr F. Travers presided, and presented Mr Fredericks with a safety razor, and suoke of his many good qualities. Other speakers were Messrs Frame, Harbison, Cord well, and j Batchelor. Songs were contributed by Mrs Jones, Miss Berry, Messrs Croft, Digby, and McGowan. The accompaniments were placed by Mr Jones. AKAROA. The Summer Show held by the Akaroa Horticultural (Society' last week served to show our many visitors what the town can do in producing; flowers, fruit, and vegetables. "In spite of the mid-summer drought, flowers, such as roses, geraniums, pelargoniums, sweet peas, and hardy open-air blooms, were well-nish as fine as those of any previous show. The peaches and cherries exhibited were splendid samples of what Akaroa's stone fruit trees can produce. For size, rolour, and flavour* all the exhibits in this section were of a very high quality. The vegetables, too, were eminently satisfactory evidenco that, as long as water is obtainable in a dry season, our kitchen gardens can easily hold their own. In the evening several visitors contributed an imprompin promenade concert to the evident delight and satisfaction of a fairly large audience. _ The performers were Misses Cade. Voglcr, Crawshaw, Pole, Robins,, and Mr Palmer. The Mavor of Akaroa (Mr George Armstrong) extended to them the very hearty , thanks of the Society for the acceptable help so cheerfully given. At a later stage, the Mayor put up to auction some of the fruit, vegetables, flowers, and cookery exhibits. The proceeds^—£s 8s 9d —were handed over to the Belgian Children's Christmas Fund.

As a result of the appeal made at the dinner table on Christmas Day by the special envelopes, the following amounts are acknowledged by Mr T. Lewitt, hon. secretary. Akaroa Patriotic Association: Barry's Bay, £2 l s 3d; Takamatiia. £3_os 4d: Le Bon's Bay, £7 Ss 6d ; Wainui, £3 16s 6d; Robinson's Bay £8 19s 4d; Pigeon Bay. 17s 4d; Akaroa. £49 14s lid.

ASHBUKTOX. Since October Ist last the Ashburton

County Council has paid £'632 18s 4d for small birds' heads and eggs.

Just prior to the holidays, notifications of infectious diseases were a daily occurrence at Ashbnrton, but since the New Year not one ease has been notified.

The annual camp and conference of the Seventh Day Adventists will be held in the Ashbnrton Domain, commencing on January 25th. "Representatives will be present from all parts of the Dominion, and delegates from Australia. will also be in attendance. The work of erecting the tents, etc., is already bring carried out, and it is expected there will" be a large gathering. Owing to the continued dry weather, the grass in many parts of the Ashburton County has become dried up to a dangerous degree, and a match carelessly thrown down would cause a serious fire. It is reported that there have been many grass fires on the Mount Somers line, while at Lagmhor some peaty land has been burning for a few days.