CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.- COPYRIGHT.]

Evening Post, Volume LXVIII, Issue 136, 6 December 1904, Page 5

CABLE NEWS. [BY ELECTRIC TELEGRAPH.- COPYRIGHT.]

DROUGHT AND FIRE. ©. . CROPS IN NEW SOUTH WALES. INJURIOUSLY AFFECTED. [PHESS ASSOCIATION.] SYDNEY, sth December. Protracted hot weather and the absence of rain are injuriously affecting cereal and fruit crops. Wheat in some districts has been caught at a critical period, and the ears prevented from filling. [Late Sydney papers just to hand fully bear out the statements in the above cablegram. The Armidaie correspondent of the Daily Telegraph, writing last week, said :r— "Owing to the insufficiency of the summer rainfall, the hay and grain crops throughout the district will be very light, j The crops flourished in the early spring, ; but of late have made little headway, and are now in a very backward condition. Hay being cut at present will yield about one ton per acre. Last year wheaten and oaten hay averaged about three tons per acre. Rain is badly wanted for the corn. With low prices and light crops, the outlook for farmers is anything but cheerful. There is still an enormous quantity of last season's hay stored throughout the district. On one farm on Kelly's Plains, from stacks of over 200 tons not a single load has been carted during the year, and generally only a small percentage of the crop has been marketed." A similar story is told by a Singleton correspondent, who predicts a light crop of wheat and a scarcity of pasturage.] THERMOMETER REGISTERS 96. (Received December 6, 9.8 a.m.) , 1 SYDNEY, This Day. j The weather is very bad. The ther- j mometer registered 96 in the city yesterday. AREAS SWEPT BY FIRES. DAMAGE TO CROPS AND "FENCING. (Received December 6, 9.30 a.m.) SYDNEY, This Day. Bush fires have swept large areas in the Tamworth and Gunnedah districts. Much damage has been done to crops and fencing.