THE SOUTHERN OUTLOOK.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 583, 11 August 1909, Page 10

THE SOUTHERN OUTLOOK.

The ..phenomenally line iveather of the past few weeks (says our special ' Cltristchurtili correspondent) shows no si£iis of breaking, and the province is enjoying a succcssioii of bright, sunny days and sharp nights, with very little wind. The Waimate correspondent of the "Press", states that residents-in that district have to look back 1 to the 'sixties'l6 .match the weather experienced this winter. One feature of tho now closing .winiei?, ho adds, has been'tho unprccedentedly long continuance, of calm weather. With tlid. exception of one or two nights,'there has been 110 wind..stronger than a trentlo breeze for the last seven of eight months. One result ofthis unusually calm'w'eathcr hasten tho retention of moisture in'the. laud after 1 the' •moderate, rain of June and-the occasional dampness of' J illy,' thus stopping for 1 some .weeks,..on level lands and' hollows the workof tillage. But preparatory tillage ]ias been, 'well advanced , in the 'fine 'weather 'of late autumn and early, winter.'' Oil Saturday morning a dry soiith-wcst wind, with, bright' sunshine, began to'dry up'tlie' moist places," and. plough, harrow, disc arid .drill will again be at.work. As in other parts of Canterbury, farmers h'avo all extended their area under •wheat. A larger extent of-land throughout' the" country than ever has, been sown - with winter-wheat,-'and the work has been carried out .under..highly.'favourable circumstances. Owing .to dampness, a large area of soil has been held over for spring wheat!sowing, which has .now. commenced. In. North .Canterbury; tho• protracted' spell, of line weather, lias been favourable., to sheep, farmers who are raising early lambs, but ;in the C3so of arable farms, which have been extensively planted with wheat, the outlook is'iKifc-so satisfactory.-■';• There - .is a -want of moisture in tho upper soil; and rain to forward the growth of the crops is. greatly needed.''At present it - js«a''rather anxious time-for some'on the l'lains. "' If .rain is lato . in. coming • many- o'f tho. wheat: ctops on the' the light Plains' 'land. mllrbe' rather patchy crops. Lambuigis becoming general , all'over tho province. .'' •' -. ; "V: