CANTERBURY CROP PROSPECTS

Dominion, Volume 11, Issue 123, 11 February 1918, Page 8

CANTERBURY CROP PROSPECTS

■ The general consensus of experiences .regarding the wheat harvest (states a Christchurch contemporary) is not indicative of the. yields being above the ordinary. _ Much has been heard of blights, birds, winds and other matters 'which affect the cropsi These in certain districts have undoubtedly worked ..mischief; but generally the trouble has . been the direct effects of tho season. . ■■ Aiew weeks back the wbeat crops pro- ' 'raised enormous yields, but the ripen.ing quality of the weather has not come 'up to standard, and r pdbrly-headcd grain v ']is the iule. • .■".■■■ ,;" " ~ A farmer from the Bald Hill district, questioned about the quality of ■his oats this year, stated that he'had - been particularly successful .with the ■-;Ruakura_ variety. yThe crop developed J. through its successive stages in a most ~ satisfactory manner, being free from .? disease or fungus of any kind, and •■when thrashed yielded 60 bushels to ; ■ the acre. ."-,'■ As far as potatoes are concerned, ',; Templeton and Prebbleton appear free ..from blight. The trouble appears to '.Jlave resulted close to the sea-board. -Sea fogs are undoubtedly the cause "of '■the main attack this season. On one ■■paddock, which a few days before look;''ed green, the stalks, were leafless, whilst j;on several roots inspected at least four ; or five tubers on each had rotted. The late crops, of course, have suffered the ■y worst, and a number will not be worth ■digging. Blight in this district has un- .' doubtedly proved a «>riou9 set-lack to .; the potato crops/ Tho early tubers ,'.have turned out well, as they have not ,;,,been checked, bv frosts. In fact, gen- . ■■erally good yields of early potatoes have been recorded.