THE CROPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5589, 23 January 1879, Page 6

THE CROPS.

COUNTY OF ASHLEY. Now that harvest operations are fully enough advanced to allow of a near approach to correctness in estimating the probable yield of corn in the various districts, we have adopted our usual course of ascertaining from the best sources the fullest and most correct information on the subject, and the information given below may therefore be relied upon as the result of very careful research and examination. Possibly this year the information will be of more general interest than on one during which the corn has been favoured with copious and frequent showers of rain, and in which, in consequence, there has not been such an interest taken by those other than the farmers. Last year the chief feature of the corn growing season was the long continued drought unbroken, save by the arrival of some exceedingly welcome showers in the month of December, 1877, which fortunately came in time to fill out the grain, and make the harvest a more profitable one than it would otherwise have been. During harvest of that year there were a few showers of rain, which, however, were scarcely sufficient to make it difficult to secure the harvest, though it did retard matters very much, but the effect they had upon the pastures and turnip crops was such as to give a plentiful supply of winter feed for stock. Since that time the rainfaU has been so s i; ght as to render it a difficult matter to ascertain and know how the crops were first of all put in ; and when in, how the seed was enabled to germinate. The autumn, ploughing was greatly retarded by this means, farmers and others feeling sure that rain would, at any rate, set in by Easter, and many and anxious were the enquiries respecting the weather. In spite of the great drought and the hardness of the ground, several farmers proceeded with the work, in most cases having to use greater strength than would otherwise have been required, and thus a great quantity of early sown or autumn grain was put in. Looking generally at the result of the present harvest, those who adopted this course have every reason to be satisfied, for it is patent that where this was done the crops have yielded the best returns, and those later sown, or owned by what are facetiously though correctly styled “Afternoon farmers,” have suffered more in proportion than those sown at an early period of the year. The theory of sowing corn early may therefore be considered to be settled in this present season, for even the barley crop, by no means a large one on any occasion, has proved itself to have been only successful where sown early. The ground was, however, in capital order for the reception of seed, and a very large yield would in all cases have resulted had the spring of the year been favoured with its usual amount of rain. As it was, from March till September the rain fall was but trifling, the hard clayey soil being scarcely saturated, whilst the little that fell on the open loamy sod of the plains was not of sufficient quantity to allow of it assisting the growth of the seed. In consequence the corn sown had to depend entirely <vi (, 0 inherent moisture in the grouuu, u..a the result has been that on the dry plains a much smal'er yield will be obtained. Added to this the season has been one more than usuahy prone to north-west winds, and which have in some instances been unusually severe. From time to time the disastrous effects of these winds have been recorded, and now their effect is more apparent than ever in the blighted appearance of the grain on the lighter

Last year the estimated yield for tho County of Ashley, as taken by tho enumerators specially engaged by tho Government to obtain the information, was— Wheat 163,609 bushels g at * 197,839 do Barky 20,897 do This was considered to have boon considerably below the real amount of corn that was threshed, as it is generally found that farmers m giving an estimate of their produce are inclined to under-state tho amount rather than exceed tho truth. The quantity of the yield this year must of necessity be considerably less than this, as in consequence of the dry season after harvest and during the winter, many who would have broken up fresh land W - e ij d ® terred from doing so. Moreover, the Vida throughout has been very poor, and far less in proportion, except in some few favoured districts, as the Island of Kaiapoi, and tho JSative Reserve, on which the dry season has had comparatively little effect. Of course a w°* I 811 *! has been broken up mob had till this season been nothing "7 k nd in its native state, Knf “S 1 * n °rthempart of the county; but the yield from this can only be a small portion of the amount which tho county

will lose in other respects. Had the season been one which is commonly known as a “dripping” one, the quantity of land ready for the plough would have Yielded an amount of gram which would have made K r ® a *' difference in the export trade ; but as R has been, the scarcity of feed of all kinds wil tend to raise the demand for corn, as it must be sought after for homo consumption, _ The same reason for the diminution in the amount of corn raised, accounts for the small quantity of grass seed which has evidently been collected, and it is found that in very few districts has there been much Of tins commodity saved at all, as the P M ‘ ture is so short and was burnt up at so early a period in the season, that the paddocks became too valuable for the stock to run the risk of leaving them for seed, consequently the yield has been very small. Where saved the yield has not reached anything like a fair Beans to* are a much scarcer commodity than in more favourable seasons, the best and most prolific crops being found on the Native reserve. Woodend, always so famous for the yield of thii article, has its fields of them, but they have failed to grow to the perfection they usually attain even there, and the crop is but a light one. Potatoes, in most instances, have scarcely made a fair start to form, and though the tops have st ; ll a healthy appearance and the roots still show an amount of freshness, which is surprising under tho c'vcumstances, they require a considerable rain on them to assist them in developing. In some of the moister ground nearKaiapoi, where they have

been tried, the crop is likely to be a fair one, though nothing equal to last year. A great quantity of turnips have been sown during the past fortnight, which, with the welcome showers that recently fell, should partly supply the lack of winter feed which is imminent. . The County being divided into eight Ridings it is perhaps advisable to take each separately, and we will therefore commence with THB BYEETON BIDING, In no district in this County does the land vary so much in quality as the one under notice, the southern portion of it being considered equal to any in New Zealand, and always famous for yielding the best crops, growing the best pastures, and consequently being the most valuable portion of the dis-

trictj wh ;l e towards the north-western portion of the Eiding the quality of the land is very poor, being principally shingle with a very light surface of soil. In accordance, then, with the quality of the soil, so are the crops, and thus on the Island we find the wheat and oat crops to be quite equal—and in some cases superior—to any ordinary season, as frequently when the season is very moist the corn is so laid that it does not thrive as it has done this season. There are now to bo seen some of the best imaginable crops of wheat and oats on the old farms on the Island, which cannot be expected to yield less than 50 bushels of grain, the heads being well filled and the straw clean and standing well. The barley crop is but small, and this cereal shows the shortest straw of any crop grown. The favourite wheat in this neighbourhood appears to be the red chaff white, commonly called Hunter’s, which has gained universal favour. There are other kinds represented, but the bulk of the wheat is of that description. Crossing the Ohoka stream and through the Flaxton swamp, the'corn is still assuming heavy proportions, and though later than that on the plains, is now turning for the harvest, and the average through the Ohoka district is not likely to prove much less than on the island, though the quantity of land under grain is much less in proportion than in the older settled district. A considerable quantity of new swamp land is now coming under cultivation, having been reclaimed through the drainage works carried out under the Eoad Board and Board of Conservators, and it is evident to the passer-by that these works have absorbed a considerable amount of the enormous revenue recently acquired by the various Boards in this County, though they are tel ling their tale on the land a 1 ready in the improved drainage provided. Through Flaxton and Ohoka proper there are not so many corn crops, but what are cut seem to yield well up to a 43 bushels’ average, and from that westward, this average is not again reached, except in one or two instances. On the MandevP'e plains and to the extreme boundary of the district, farmers have to be contented with a far smaller average, the grain bemg apparently stunted in its growth, and the heads being but poorly filled. Towards Eyreton proper, or what is called the township, the average yield improves with the natu-e of the soil and some farms there will turn the forty bushel average, though taking the whole it will be reduced to thirty-two or three, there being a considerable quantity of less value. For the whole district therefore it is an extremely difficult matter to strike a fair estimate of the yield, but there will, at any rate, be 35 bushels of wheat, 30 of oats, and 15 of barley throughout. In noticing the crops at this season last year, our correspondent referred to the great quantity of damage done to the coin by the sparrows which appeared to infest the corn fields. It was a matter of particular notice this year, that the effoits put forth during the winter by some of in the district to rid themselves of these birds had, to a certain extent, had an effect, as the number of sparrows appeared much less than last year.

WEST ETEETON EIDING. This is but a small district, but a considerable portion of the land is sown with some description of corn, which is this year in fair circumstances. The fields around the railway station bearing the name of the Eiding do not give one an altogether gloomy impression of the character of the West Eyreton plains, though one or two neglected tenements face the visitor at starting. On the right is a large 600-aore farm, 150 acres of which are sown with Hunter’s white wheat, mixed with velvet chaff, and which cannot yield less than from 35 to 40 bushels per acre, while a field of oats further west will yield an equal amount. The advantages of the improved plan of reaping and binding are thoroughly patent in a position of this kind, for it has been deemed necessary on these farms to tie the oats with straw at a considerably greater expense, in consequence of the necessity of saving it for chaff purposes. There are several fields in this locality which will yield equally as well as those above alluded to, but there are also in the western portion of the district considerable tracts of land of a poorer description that will reduce the average of the entire district considerably, and will leave it for wheat 25, oats 20, ana barley 15 bushels for such as is grown.

oxfobd biding. , Jhis district is undoubtedly more under the influence and control of wind and rain than any other in the County, and it certainly appears to bo favoured with one or other every day. The effect the winds of the early spring season had upon the crops grown here was very severe, as, in some instances, during a heavy gale in November, the soil (which through the long continued drought had baked and gone to dust), was carried away from its place, and in many instances lodged against the fences, making it an easy matter for stock of all kinds to walk over them. Ear from this being an exaggeration, there are still several instances of the truth of this to be seen, the work of clearing having been left TTr- a considerable quantity of the land has not yielded the amount of seed put into it, and this through no fault of the farmer. This is specially ano°ll pert of the Oarleton property and f °T orly known aB EUi/llat. This land, though so recently in the market, isnowfenoodand subdivided in all directions “ a BmaU Population gathering bar An! ar ? < ? ne or two good crops landi L.h P Jr n ° lpal P orfcion ° f the new the d nlnf l? f 8h r dfo - Bu . mmer fallowing, and On p T ? f therefore is but small. Si Ca l l6t ? n fch ? re are 80me fair average crops of wheat and oats, but they do not riCd°ff aVe fiU f d oufc in tho having The weight is thu! danTd^ U f h -i redu , oed - Barley has boon a » here, and the amount sown n , ofc a lar g® oae - West of the of nof°* ® x * ord there are large quantities ° a .. g r . ow O' a gwat portion being for consumption in the district, and the wheat is but LT !ri C^“ dera l ioa * What is grown is m lair condition, the constant rain from the

north-west being its chief benefactor. The average yield for the Biding will not exceed Wheat 15, oats 15, and barley 8 bushels. TUB OUST HIDING. . The corn on that portion of this Biding which is flat will not differ much from tbot grown in the West Eyreton, but none of the yields are so heavy, and without the assistance of the clayey downs land, the average would bo but a small one. Never have the downs proved themselves to be so valuable as they have done this year, more especially to the early farmer and not the “ afternoon sower. The crops on the downs land arc, without exception, as good this season as they ever were. The land having now got into thorough cultivation, and having a stiff clay subsoil, has retained sufficient moisture to strengthen the roots of the growing corn. There is comparatively little else grown besides wheat and oats, both of which have held out remarkably well, the barley crop is so small as to be unworthy of notice. The potatoes are very backward, and there is little else to note. Wheat will average twenty-five bushels, and oats about the same, though had they filled properly instead of having been prematurely ripened, the weight would have been at least ten bushels more to the acre. Several of the wheat crops on the south side will give thirty bushels to the acre, though the straw is shorter than usual. THE MANDBVIDLB BIDING. This having the central position in the County, and being also the most thickly populated Biding, affords scope for division, and which to review in order the growth of corn here, it is advisable to do so. Taking, therefore, the Fernside district, the downs in the upper or western portion of it have produced a much greater yield than was anticipated at the early portion of the season, as in consequence of there being no rain it was thought next to an impossibility that maturity would follow. As the season advanced, however, it was noticeable that these crops held their own, whilst the flat land was suffering from the drought. One or two instances of really excellent yields of wheat are proofs of the necessity of early sowing, as much as 45 bushels being reaped off some velvet chaff, and Hunter’s white yielding at least 40 on the same farm. The average of the corn on the plains will not reach anything like this amount, but taking the district generally, there will be a good paying harvest. The barley crop is a much better one hero than in any other district in the County, and in some instances, as on the Mount Thomas road, will average from 40 to 45 bushels to the acre. Several fields have been taken up from English grass with but one ploughing, and this year has shown the necessity of twice ploughing, for where the single ploughing has only been done it is apparent that the corn has not grown with the strength, nor has it been as profitable a yield as where two ploughings have been taken. Taking the district from the Cust boundary to the acknowledged boundary of the Fernside district, the average will be, wheat 24 bushels, oats 32, and barley 30. Some fields of wheat will much exceed this average, but the general average is reduced by a few very light specimens. There is but a small quantity of corn grown on the Stoke Grange and Banner Down estates compared with, former years, and the quantity of grain for exportation will be inuch diminished thereby. Beaching Banglora from the north-west, the crops on the Oxford road are earlier and more forward than usual, but have withstood the drought very surprisingly. The average yield, however, is only about half what it would have been with the same quantity of straw in a fair growing season. There are some good patches to be seen of the various cereals, but the heads are very light, and the straw close but short, so that there is not the bulk of grain that should be. Nearer the swamps the quantity of grain improves, and through the MandeviUe swamp, which on'y recently has come to be fit for cropping, some of the finest crops in the district are to be seen. On the east side of the township of Bangiora the land is of a superior class, and as it includes some of the earliest selections in the County, the results, as may be anticipated, are very much superior to those in less favoured localities. The yield of corn this year will be quite equal to that of any former year. Through the Native reserve to Kaiapoi, and in that neighbourhood, good crops are to be seen on every aide, and the yield there will be very heavy. Through Woodend and Waikuku districts a fair harvest is now being secured, but not equal to that on the new ground of the Eeserve. The average will not exceed 30 bushels ; beans, 20. Potatoes are expected from present appearances, to yield 10 tons to the acre, but they will be small in proportion to the ordinary size, unless there are frequent showers during their growth. The general average of the

O —— - O W* —V Riding is thus brought to the fo I ‘owing : Wheat 35, oats 40, barley 25, and beans 18 bushels. About Rangiora are to be seen one or two rather exceptional crops, but they have been assisted by more than usua’ly deep ploughing, and the results have been proportionate to the increased expenditure on them. ASHLEY BIDING. In former years this district has been much below its neighbours in the yield of corn, but on this occasion the clayey subsoil has suited the season, and has retained the moisture sufficiently to ensure a fair crop of both wheat and oats. There is comparatively little barley grown, and what is seen is on the low ground. • The land having now been under cultivation for some time is in a better state, and yields more corn than ever it did before, and though the grass has been considerably burnt up of late, the corn had grown to a sufficient height before the drought set in to allow of it penetrating the ground so severely. There is throughout the district an average of 30 bushels of wheat and oats, and the former is a remarkably good sample, and will no doubt find favour in the market. KOWAI BIDING. This is similarly situated to the Ashley Riding, and on the downs portion will yield equally as well, but in the upper or northern part of it where the land is of a more porous, and generally of a drier nature, the yields of corn will very materially decrease the average. Several fields have been left to be eaten off by the stock in consequence of the almost complete fa : lura of the corn, and there are others also which have not been ready worth cutting, though it has been done with considerable difficulty. A’l the late sown crops have more or less suffered from the drought which seems to have penetrated a great deal of this class of land. The pastures in many instances are very much burnt, but have somewhat recovered during the past week or so. The general average for this district will bo—wheat, 25 j oats, 23; and barley, 15. WAIPABA BIDING. The crops in the Waikari district are the principal ones in this Riding, and are not of a very great extent, though what are to be seen are in a very forward state, and wiU recompense the growers. They have the benefit of the heavy fogs which generally rise off the sea at night, and encircle the hills, and consequently have not suffered to so great an extent as those on the plains. There is now about SCOO acres in cultivation, and there w ;, l be an average yield of about 80 bushels this year, which, considering that the land is principally new, and that there has been no further movement mode towards improving the communication by rail, is the more surprising, but a considerable portion of the produce will be required for consumption northward.

Tub Czab’s Income.— The Emperor of Russia is the richest monarch in Europe, if not in the world. The total income of the Imperial family reaches the extravagant sum of £2,450,000. The Emperor is in possession of the whole revenue of the Crown domains, consisting of more than a million square' miles of cultivated lands and forests, besides gold and silver mines in Siberia, producing an annual revenue of 4,000,000 roubles, or £671,500. The expenditure of this semibarbario court amounts to £1,603,000 j but this sum does not include the appendages which amount to about £540,000. Of the total income of the Czar about £450,000 is annually spent on charities, schools, theatres Ac., so that after all there is a sum of £2,000,000 sterling left in the coffers of the ruler of the Muscovites.