KAITANGATA LAKE

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

KAITANGATA LAKE

The rain which fell the end of last week | has had the effect of bringing the turnip ' crop away at a good rate. Guano has beeu i largely used by the farmers to give it a quick start. We are very -sorry to learn that the catterpillar has made its appearance. The rain, however, may have the effect of strengthening the leaf sufficiently soon to enable the crop- to withataad the threatened devastation. As yet no very serious damage has been done, and if it escapes, a heavy yield may be looked ior. Potatoes are looking remarkably fine. So far as appearances indicate they are likely to be ready about the usual time, viz., the beginning of the year. The average yield about tbe river banks is, from twelve to i sixteen tons per ..acre, and on the ridges from four to six. So far as we have ascer- i iaiaed, that yield bids fair to be maintained. The district wheat cropis^lso looking fine. On the low lands, and about the river flats in particular, it is most luxuriant and although not. qnite so good on the ridges- it is nevertheless a very promising crop. As yet there is every indication Of a good average yield, viz., -seventy bushels per acre on the river banks and low lands, «and from "thirty to iifty on the others. A good breadth of oats has been sown, which is likewise coming well forward. A yield of eighty bushels per acre on the plains, anl forty to sixty on the high lands is the usual estimate, and there is no reason as yet to suppose the present crop will corae short ot that. A good deal of barley wilf be grown this- year, but we have heard no particulars regarding the prospects of the crop. Despite the severity of the weather, the lambing season has turned out very good. In sheltered localities the increase has been seventy and as much as' 100 per cent. In round numbers it is estimated that.2o,ooo sheep will be -shorn.; 'Wool-growing being -a pursuit only re-: cently adopted by -settlers in the district," no arrangements have yet been masie for washing, so that tbe*fleece will be-all cut in j tbe grease, A start in shearing was made; I a couple of weeks ago, but it will not bei i general throughout the district. for the, next few days, ,' "