THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXVII, Issue 9648, 13 February 1892, Page 6

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

The weather m the northern district yesterday was exactly what is required for the crops, there being a light north-wester and excessive sun heat. All available labour has been engaged by the farmers, and rhe grain is being put into stack as rapidly as possible. Our Ellesmere correspondent writes : Harvesting operations in this district have been at a standstill during the week on account of the recent rain. Up to the time of the stoppage good progress had been made, and a fair proportion of the grain was in stack, and in some instances had been threshed from the stook. Judging from the reports from other districts the Ellesmere farmers must be grateful for the comparatively small amount of damage done to their crops. Either we have had less rain, or the farmers have done their work more satisfactorily, for except in isolated cases I can hear of no damage being done. Two large farmers told me yesterday that after carefully examining their stocks they could find no damage whatever. Of course the grain was a little soft, but the hot, drying wind that has sprung up will very soon bring the grain back to its normal condition. The work of stacking and threshing was resumed this morning, and in a few days the anxiety that has been felt for the safe gathering in of the grain will be forgotten. The rain was of immense value to all root crops and pastures. Accounts from Southland state that the country is looking wonderfully well, there being bountiful crops of oats, grass, and turnips in all directions. The heavy south-east rain and wind that did such damage in Canterbury, was experienced, and flattened soma of the heaviest crops, but the loss occasioned thereby will not be very extensive.