THE CROPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LI, Issue 5601, 6 February 1879, Page 6

THE CROPS.

ASHBURTON COUNTY. This year’s yield of the different cereals grown in this County will be fully equal to that of last year, should favourable harvest weather now follow for a few weeks longer. In some places the crops have been very light indeed, and were not thought worth cutting a short time ago. The change in the weather made such a difference in them that it was hard to believe they were the same that looked so miserable a few days back. A heavy undergrowth has now come up, and paddocks which presented a dry, burnt up surface, are now full of splendid feed—-a very welcome change indeed to our farmers after such an unprecedented dry spring and summer. The sample of grain will be a first-class one, especially in the later sown crops, and will probably average in all the districts throughout the County as follows: — wheat, 22 ; oats, 27 ; barley, 15. The soil being a light loamy one in nearly all parts of the county, requires good deep tillage, and whenever this has been done the crops havoviejoed remarkably well, and will pay handsomely. The strong nor’-west winds, which have been so prevalent for months, have of course done great damage, and fully ;10 bushels per acre may bo safely assumed as being lost through this cause. On some farms the top soil bos been completely blown away, and in some instances the crop with it; and where this has occurred of course the return will be nothing. The later sown corn has made great headway, and will, contrary to the usual state of things, yield very well, and bring up the average to quite that of last year, which, however, can by no means be called a good one, taking into consideration the previous year’s average. The hay crop has been an entire failure. Some excellent crops of hay for seed were to bo seen in the Upper Ashburton and Mount Somers districts, which would have yielded well, but the nor’-wester did not leave sufficient intervals of calm weather to enable holders to secure the crop. In these two Districts, the rain, which on several occasions accompanied these winds, in torrents during the spring, did great service to the hay crop?, and at one time splendid results were anticipated, one large landowner stating that he never had a finer or heavier crop of rye grass in any previous season. Large areas of turnips nave been sown, and in the majontj ot oases the crop promises to give a splendid return. Potatoes have not Men planted to any groat extent, but the yield will, it is thong' l '. Be larger than that of lost year. We did not see any bean crops growing on any one fanll- - showing that their culture here does not pay, or that they wiil not tati kindly to the soil. Bakaia Riding. . The large area of land brought mtociut ' vation during the past year in this district - very striking, and one cannot travel far no adays without seeing green hedgerows an well laid-out paddocks in all direct lol1 -’ showing that agriculture of all kinds - received a large impetus, especially a district the heart of vrluch tapped with railway communication, on stul being further benefited with a M 9. , e line that will open up the country 10 greatest advantage. Towards the sea some fair average crops are to be seen, the ( a » area being in wheat. Oats also P ron ? l! ,, be give a fair return. Very little barley . seen. The winds have been very destr , and a gpeat quantity of grain shaken; Towards Kyle the crops are n a „ u t. light, and have in most instances been At Barrhill, Methven, the crops ore veiy v(1 and a very much larger area has ne 0 f thie year than last. large turnips tare sown this season, and owms k . resent dripping ” weather they *° vcr y •My well. Blight, however, has n turD ip prevalent, and in some places to* f 0 r stops will be a failure. Little or no W

fi tr.°” bt« farrbV ami in abm b]* ir crop* should "'< h il Hl ‘ -T , 110 •• Velvet e ‘“nersllv f fo » Thestrawis Imp and well filled. Ch r f.lu“t, bn*' !I .V h,V Bing, be equal to jth'**? 22 oals. ami 10 of barley. \,nt IS l ’f " . been brought under .if- ** 'btins pn-P rea '“ r of land 1» teaiO D. .. r .. T Sombbs KIDI>O. M f the County it is thought This P : ' rt 0 an average of ail kinds ,ho* 9 qn' l ®* 8 g? r the County. Tlmis offrcT * fir because the majority of Wbe spurted wn ftnd the ram. tbef«>r* ,7‘acoompanv the strong nor • which u ? ua ! |* o neighbourhood of the ranges, westers m c Qf wum here and did*P rwtd isSf have been seriously *** !f being blown off them. d‘ ms? v ' t rrons look extremely well, the The wheat crO T, length, and the £.• **‘aSi S-& stila ..t.. Th. f»nne« bcM * hfaT j er yield than m any tie crop* 1,.L fountr. Oats have been sown to some eI,f n ' _ Bariev is not grown oearlj trcT JJ t large acreage of land is to rioughed up for next season, in Itf *’h'itn P having one or more «P** f railway within easy distance, here will be inclined to grow far thev do now, with having the rl o fa speedy transit to 01 Lm/yield per acre will be—wheat, IS. The potato crop fairone. *“* rrwa AsnsrETOK Riding. V, 2 r portion of the County has under- * chance during the past twelvethe wav cf cultivation than has this month! m »- ir • the Hinds river to the Ashburton, wv! whole of tie available land suitcropping has been brought under the S the Plough; roads have been metalled from one end of the dis- ; and last, but not least, the tojV c o untv Council have taken m of the Mount Somers line of railway, which runs T A'-e heart of the district. Some of ‘r'bif f o r this line have now come to hand, ic ,rvd the commencement of the line S? CiCTweded with without delay, so that Si ,-ether rear passes by, the farmers and i Z r *~ the Biding mav have the opportunity their produce, Ac., to the nearest *j* & small cost. i wit 15 000 acres hare been cultivated in of that of last year. The crops are in places verv light indeed, and especially so SL crons. Oats are grown lately, and b] bid Terr fairly if the recent south-west wind; hare xot shaken them. Pam s-ess of turnips are sown, and they looi ntrmeh well. On the Westerfield estate ‘c'iendid crops of oats are to be *en will vield fully 60 bushels per ten’ Barhv is v'erv little grown, and indeed in the County can it be said that any qnintitj is crown. Without exception the £ne=t crop ot this cereal is grown on a farm in the Ashburton Forks. strong eou’wettwof last Thursday, however, has spoilt this crop, it being just ready to reap at the time. This crop of barley promised to yield Mr 35 bushels per acre. Some splendid I fields of wheat were also noticeable in this \ orighbonnood. which, owing to the land ,' being well farmed, will yield fully 40 bushels per acre. On the Lagmoha estate there are a few excellent crops cf wheat, being nice and even and clean, with sample well filled. The principal kinds jrown are “Hunter’s White, Pearl, and '• Tibet Chaff.” The average yield will probably t;— of wheat, 23 bushels ; cats, 27; barley, IS. The potato crops look promising, and tic recent weather will have a desirable erect upon their yield. A-HsmoN Biding. Tie largest Biding, and the oldest settled one in the County, shows a still ■ pater advancement, and a greater increase intn?number of acres trough; . ..uiui opum since last year than any dhn Towards the Eangitata, south of railway line, a considerable area hi been cropped this season, and fie ety-rave been on the whole very favourable. Chatmoss and Windermere some ce crops of wheat and oats are to be seen. Between Winslow, Longbeach, and Tinwald taere are ai;o some fine crops of oats, wheat, •nd Parley. The probable average yield will be |^- i P~vhat, 23; oate, 28 ; barley, 15. On Ue Long; ear-h estate some nice even yields Juwseaureto be seen, and will yield fully * uisnels per acre. Harvest operations are 111 ‘-u ;w;ng, and a large quantity of grain is cut and in stook, but very little yet .The strong eouth-west wind of ;.sa a u Q been destructive, fully 10 jT : K re being threshed out in places T- er ® were ripe and dry. At Vntv - k ere arcs time capital crops, including ‘ and barley, which will yield .air.y At Wakanui there are haTew; T ;^ ryi c r°P ! ’ and a s reafc , _r“ stacked previous to the late _ ; te l - a ’ir2e quantity still lying out, : ,; n ‘n- '- r favourable weather to cart them s i . the cereals here will vield—of barley TB. (je t ‘ - a ac reage of cereals has lU T tar ! und the yield will, on tb'V-r i" e ’ fce . Tcr - r The wheat looks »td n heads are plump and Th*. oat crop is also very (wlu.“ e Tj l; 2:‘P a l kinds grown bciifg the r x /‘„ n and Tartarian. Potatoes and other hr~r.^ ! -u re nCII * ar (l c Ty grown here. The P'raps, yield very fairly, the S',.?;. - 'm! 1 °t cereals taken throughout the «??', W ?A Pyphably be as follows; —wheat ’ ut6 >«; barlev, 15.