AUSTRALIAN HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume XLIV, Issue 4618, 2 December 1875, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN HARVEST PROSPECTS.

TICTOBIA. The Australasian o' Nor. 20 reporta:— Again the reports on harvest prospects are checkered; the heavy rains, which have beest welcome on the dry, hot plains, have been tea much for the crops in cool districts. In Qipps land (says the Mercury') “the late heavy nine have done considerable damage to the crops, and have materially interfered with haymaking. Most of the cereals are now in ear, and if the rain should continue, considerable damage will accrue to the harvest.” At Flynn’s Greek, the farmers were anxious for a change from rain, for though grass was abundant, the crops much needed a month’s dry weather. Eust (says the Waranga Chronicle) has made its appearance on the Goulburn, and would be likely to spread, some of the wheats being rather too rank. Barley was looking healthy, ami oats were much improved. At Wabganyah, prospects generally appear to be good. Passing over to the north-west—to the Wimmera —we find locusts at Green Hills. The Donald Times reports a splendid season for farmers, selectors, and squatters on the Biohardson. Hay-making is in progress, and the grain harvest will be early commenced. At Great Western the grain crops promise well, “in the Marong district,” says the Advertiser, “ it? is anticipated that the average of this year's yield will be very low indeed, so indifferent it the appearance of some of the crops. Soma fiT22?rs who have been disappointed have already commenced to reap the crops for hay, it being-thought that this will be more profitable than producing the wheat. Those farmers who have sown their seed in ground that has been lying fallow for a year or two, have by far the best-looking crops. The crops are very irregular in condition, so much so as to at present render it impossible to give any idea as to the result. On one farm, they look exceedingly healthy, and handsome yields are looked forward to; whilst on the next block they are quite stunted, and, unless the fine weather, which has set in improves them wonderfully, will be hardly worth reaping.” About Avoca the crops sure looking well, except upon low-lying lands. At Learmonth, Ooghill’s Greek, and throughout the Ballarat district generally, a considerable improvement has at length taken place. Vineyard prospects are fairly good, but some damage has been done by hail, and about Albury the oidlum is said to have appeared. 1 *

SOUTH AUSTEALIA, The Adelaide Observer reports :—The harvest prospects still continue to be encouraging, and it is believed that the rust existing at Crystal Brook and other places will do but little damage, and that the crops aro too far advanced to suffer injury from the locostsu The weather has been for the most part favourable, though one qr two severe storms have occurred during the week, but they have done little harm to the wheat. The Northern Argus, of Nov. 9, reports From information we have obtained from the Northern Areas, there is every promise that the wheat yield will be very good. Even in places where tha plant was slightly blighted with hot winds it has recovered greatly by tho late rains. There being abundance or moisture in the ground the ear is filling out beautifully, and we may expect that the groiia this season will weigh well. On Belalie and along the Broughton there are no signs op blight of any kind, and the farmers anticipate a good harvest. Complaints still reach us about the dire effects of red rust towards Crystal Brook and Redhill, but we aro creditably informed that it is not extensive, being confined to patches, and moat of it has been cut for hay. Only a few will bo injured by it, but slightly. The wheat is too far advanced to be injured by locusts.’' A telegram in the Melbourne Argus reports, Nov. 15 -.—Reaping commenced in the Crystal Brook area on Saturday. The sample grain is excellent. NEW SOUTH WALES. The Sydney Town and Country report* r Cultivators of the soil in the county of Cumberland, have still to regret that the weather continues dry,- the growth of vegetation i* slow and the aspect of the country anything but refreshing. The only rain that fell during the week ended Wednesday last, was comprised in two brief showers in the course of thund-r----storms on tho sth and 11th, and these, although pretty heavy in some quarters, cd not do more than moisten the surface of earth and cool the parched surface. temperature has varied between full summ -r heat and the' coolness of early winter. N >& only the growers of fodder crops, but > « orchard owners are beginning to foresee t ( vfc unless rain in quantity comes soon the har*tA will not be abundant.