AUSTRALIAN HARVESTS

Evening Star, Issue 10463, 5 November 1897, Page 1

AUSTRALIAN HARVESTS

♦ [Peb Peess Association.—Copybight.] MELBOURNE, November 4. Recent sanguine anticipations with reference to the wheat crops in Victoria and South Australia appear to be somewhat premature, and a recurrence of dry weather is again causing alarm. The 'Ago' says that complaints of want of rain are general throughout the western and north-western portions of Victoria, and in some portions of the Malice Country the failure of the wheat crop is now admitted. Timely rains during the next week or fortnight may do something to improve the conditions, but all hopes of a bountiful harvest must now be abandoned. Against this gloomy outlook it is satisfactory to have good accounts from the Goulburn Valley and Murray districts and the north-eastern portions of the colony. The crops there are more promising than for a number of' years, and if present hopes are realised will add sensibly to. the gross yield. What is most striking this year is the shortness of the growth of the wheat plant, which is very noticeable throughout the west and north-western districts.' Hay is likely to be scarcer and dearer, and this expectation will doubtless induce a large area to be cut for hay instead of being harvested. The 'Age' continues: " South Australia appears to bo seriously threatened with another failure in the wheat harvest- X>p the outer line of the Royder rainfall line the crops have been utterly mined owing to the absenoe of rain, whilst' those within the line have made no progress during the- last month. ■ The. best.-looking .crops are dirty, and, it is stated, will be cut tforhay; .'The' most favorable estimate at the present moment is an average of three bushels to' the acre, which will give about 40,000 tons for exporting."