HARVEST OF FIELD CROPS IN NELSON WILL BE SHORTER

Greymouth Evening Star, 29 December 1950, Page 4

HARVEST OF FIELD CROPS IN NELSON WILL BE SHORTER

■ NELSON, This Day (O.C.).—Because of the dry season, and weeks of hot weather, the harvest of field crops in Nelson will be shorter this season than it has been for- many years. Older residents of the Waimea Plain cannot remember when oats were cut and stacked there as early as the last week in November, as they were this year. Barley and wheat crops are generally light, though the wheat is expected to yield better than it looks. Certified rye-grass and peas are among the other crops now being harvested. The viner at Appleby will be short of its quota of green peas for canning. There has not been sufficient moisture for months past to encourage the sowing of late crops. Those that were put in late are ripening prematurely. Hay is likely to be in short supply. Except on the heavy ground the second crop usually relied on for clover seed at present shows anything but promise; ~ i . ■

It is interesting to note, however, that the unusually dry season has favoured the setting and growth of stone fruits. In general apricot and peach trees are bearing very heavy crops of good fruit. The apples also set well, requiring the thinning operations now in progress.