THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 89, 8 January 1908, Page 10

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

. OUTLOOK IN CANTERBURY. (BT TELEGRAPH—SFECUt; COERiSI'ONDENT.) ' Christohurch, January 7. The lengthy poriod of almost rainless weathor has wrought great destruction to crops and pastures, and the outlook is daily becoming less promising. ■ . Several times lately. there have been indications 'of a change in the weather, but these promises of break-up of the drought: liavo .not been fulfilled, and .to-day is cloudless and hot. [At i» result of the extremely dry: weather of Itho,. .past month .the crops, particularly on the light and more porous soils, have'ripened prematurely, and in these cases the grain will lie light. Crops on the better ,class of soils, however, have, como through tjio; ordeal wonderfully .well, arid:.'gardens are. rtflt-' nearly.' in such 'a bad condition as; might have been oxpectcd' after .. sucli a,' long djiought.': Ora'ss ipaddocks are'beginning- to ;sn2er , scveirely; • arid' some apprehension is beginning to bo felt- about autumn feed; "It is fearcd,\" savs tho " Star," that tho scarcity - of: feed during, tho next few months; may. cause farmers to- .rush .their-' sheep and lambs on tho market.:causing.an-over-supply,' with the probable result of'. »• • furthor drop in values." . ■;