THE COLONY'S CROPS.

Evening Post, Volume LVII, Issue 23, 28 January 1899, Page 5

THE COLONY'S CROPS.

» The Oamaru Mail's Waimate corres pont writes : — " The weather is proving too dull to be for the benefit of the barvest in the locality- Very little harvesting has yet been done, and in some places a black mould is coming on the wheat husks. Farmers are afraid that it is a blight that will run through the district unless dry and ripening weather sets in • imediately. Some barley, oats, and grass seed can be seen in stook F and give promise of an abundant yield. The farmers are making every preparation for a ousy time, and all the mills and binders are being put in good repair " The same paper states that according to a visitor from up-country the crops at Hakataramea and Kurow are in good order, and Avill bulk largely. At Otiake they are excellent, but at Maerewhenua. they are not so good. The crops here on the darkei .faces are good, but on the more open facet they have been shrivelled by the nL>r'westers which prevailed about the time the ears were shooting. Good accounts are> heard on all side? of the apearance of the potato crops (says " Winnower "in the Hawera Star). In the bush especially heavy yields are promised. A big area of bush has been felled in the district this year, but unless the weather clears up the burn will be a bad one, which means something serious? to small farmers. An Oamaru paper reports that Mr. Terence Rodgers has a crop of 250 acres of wheat on Taipo, which is expected tc go close on 50 bushels to the acre.

[by telegraph— pbess association.] Oa3La.hu, This Day. The weather has been bad for harvesting during the past week or so, but ha? taken up again. Work is pretty general here now, and the crops are on the whole heavy.