Pastoral and Agricultural Notes

Clutha Leader, Volume I, Issue 22, 10 December 1874, Page 5

Pastoral and Agricultural Notes

During the past week we have enjoyed fine 7 -seasonable weather, and its effect upon the crops has been of a beneficial character. Reports to hand from the -river-bank districts are most encouraging, and despite the backwarc state of matters at the beginning of the season, reasonable prospects exist of the harvest becoming a good one * certainly much better than was at one time anticipated. At the districts south of the Clutha, the improvement does not appear to be quite so rapid ; still, we have evidence that matters are mending' even there. In some places the grasshopper pest has made its appearance, but. so far as we can learn, it is not spreading rapidly. In other parts the sorrel nuisance is complained of. With these trifling excep- . tions the general tone of agricultural pursuits is healthy. Sheep-shearing would now seem to be pretty general throughout the district. Indeed, some of the earlier stations have finished, but it would be premature as yet to hazard any very decided opinion regarding the clip as a whole. Flock-owners in the vicinity of the Clutha have not suffered much from the inclemency of the lambing season. It should, however, be borne in, mind that, the most of their flocks are reared' on artificial pastures, and the young stock enjoyed extra advantages in the way of shelter and protec-. tion. In the highland districts where similar advantages do not exist there. is too much reason to fear the -lambing season will turn out to have been a dis - astrous one. Pastures are most luxuriant. A correspondent, whose statement can be relied tipon, informs us that during a seventeen } r ears' residence on Inch Clutha, he never witnessed anything at all equal to the existing state of the grass paddocks. Our reports to hand from the .different districts are as follows : — WAIWERA, The settlers of this district have to a large extent embarked in wool growing. We are not in a position to furnish an approximate of the number of sheep to he< shorn this year, but it must be considerable. The lambing eeison was a fair average one, as high -as -80 per cent having in some cases been obtained. Shearing commenced a few days ago, and may be expected to become general in the course, of a week or so. The current rate oi wages (20s per hundred) is being paid. Hands are reported to be scsreo, an<l unless) a greater number turn up soon the district clip will be rather late. As a rule, the wool produce of this district is washed. The wheat crop, of which a tolerably large breadth was sown, is looking very thin and backward. At present it is estimated as being &t ieast a full month behind ita usual time. Late rains are expected to bring it forward a little faster. The average yield of the district for some years past hag been from thirty to forty busDelti per aero. So far as appearance go at present, tho deficiency this year will be rather considerable. Still, aftiw weeks fine weather such as we may reasonably expect, -would do much to improve the general aspect of affaire. Oits and barley ere looking better, and unless the comes cold and bois- , terous, the average yield of fifty to seventy bushels, for oats may be looked for.