AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS IN SOUTH WAIRARAPA.

Evening Post, Volume LVI, Issue 157, 31 December 1898, Page 5

AGRICULTURAL PROSPECTS IN SOUTH WAIRARAPA.

[by telegraph. — own correspondent.] Carterton, This Day. The caterpillar is very much in evidence in the oat crops in parts of the district. Farmers, to escape its ravages, are cutting the crops for chaff, and fortunately the crops are now sufficiently advanced for converting into oaten chaff. There is not a large proportion of land in wheat, but what there is is looking well. The wet spring has proved exceptionally favourable to the growth of fodder, and the hay crop is proportionately heavy, the bulk of it having been' successfully harvested. Recently-sown turnips are looking remarkably well, and there are some exceptionally heavy fields of rape. In respect to wool, the average is more than reached in regard to weight, but there are more than the usual number of matted fleeces, due to the wet season. Off bush country there will be a lot of dingy wool, resulting from la»b year's fires. Shearing is practically finished on the large stations, but smaller sheds will keep the hands going a few weeks longer. Botn sheep and lambs are remarkably well forward in condition, and already many are finding their way to the freessing works. In dairying, prospects are brighter than last season, the supply to the factories being fully 10 per cent, m Excess of last year at this time. The quality, also, is richer. Advices from London are encouraging in regard to prices for dairy produce.