HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Lyttelton Times, Volume C, Issue 11770, 23 December 1898, Page 2

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

[CoaitEsrofflßENT “ Canterbury Times."] At this time last year our correspondents could but report an assured failure of the crops. 'Una year they write fronuall parts of a present propose of abundance, while fearing that the elements may conspire to • pale or destroy the fair prospect. In some places rain is needed, in others rust-has-made- ' its appearance; the nor’-westors of the last few days have intensified the need of moisture, while they have probably dispelled the danger to be apprehended from rust. It can be said that the crops never looked bet- ■ ter at this time of year, and given no more than the usual unfavourable weather—wind . and drought in the next week or Two, and wind and rain afterwards being most to be feared—the harvest of 1899 will be the most bounteous yet reaped in this country.

NORTH CANTERBURY. The uncertainties attending the farmer’s calling is well exemplified hy the contrast between the last harvest and the prospects of that which is coming. Last year at tlris time a glooin had settled over the whole , farming community • light and stunted . crops and parched pastures, making many a heart sick, and robbing the Christmas season of much of its happiness and merriment. It is a matter of thankfulness that a really bad harvest, such as the last, is rare in North Canterbury; but a little adversity has its good, in reminding ns that our lines ar e cast in a very pleasant place, and leading us to value our prosperity, and the years of plenty such as the present promises to he. '£he crop prospects this season have never been better in the history of the district. The favourable sowing season, and the occasional showers since the seed went in have resulted in the production of crops of an evenness or growth exceptional in even the best of seasons. A “ patchy ” field is a rarity, and on every hand the wheat and oats stretch ‘ away level and heavily headed. A rather too prominent feature in a good number of wheat however, is the wild oats, which appear to have spread very much this season. This is probably due to the more thorough pulverising of the soil at sowing time naving releaised the wild oat seed from the lumps of earth where it had laid dormant, for perhaps years, and made the conditions suitable

for its germination. In the same way the wild tares threaten to he troublesome on some of the farms ’in the Rangiora and Woodend districts. The prospects are so even, throughout North Canterbury that more than brief reference to each district is unnecessary. At Oxford and Carleton there is just about the average quantity of wheat and oats, and ail the crops are in first-class condition, frequent showers off the hills having helped' in their growth very materially. There is a considerable quantity of turnips and rape here, and the crops are all doing well. At West Eyreton some of the wheat is standing five feet in height, and in one case a crop has made that much growth and is not yet in ear. If the nor’-westers do not interfere, the yields are expected to be the heaviest for year's. The rape here, too, is making good growth, and in some cases is even now being fed off. In the Gust district the prospects are equally satisfactory, promise of JO bushel cropk being the rule. On the Moeraki Downs,where failures in the crops are often to be recorded on account of the nature of the soil requiring certain climatic conditions to cause it to yield well, the crops are very satisfactory on the, whole, although here and there a comparatively poor one is to be seen. On the Spring bank property and through the Swannanoa district, the wheat is looking splendid, and should yield from 40 to 45 bushels per acre. On the drained srvamp lands between Soutbbrook and Ohoka there are also to be seen crops that have grown vigorously and will yield well. At Flaxton and around Kaiapoi the prospects leave nothing to be desired, some of the crops promising 50 bushels to the acre. On the Kaiapoi Island and in the Eyreton district the outlook is equally satisfactory. At Femsido all the crops are well forward, and the fanners profess themselves very well satisfied with their prospects. Between Rangiora and the sea the crops of all kinds are a perfect picture of health and vigorous growth. The wheat and oats in some cases will run up to 65 or 70 bushels to the acre, and scarcely a field promises less than 50 bushels. Crossing the Ashley River, the Mount Grey and Ashley Downs are “clothed in living green,” which should ultimately yield 35 to 40 bushels of wheat, and funy 40 bushels of oats to the acre. At Lobum the outlook is equally promising, and at North Lobum, where the heavy retentive soil often

produces vexy indifferent crops, the conditions tliis year Lave, been favourable and the yields will be above the average unless the north-westers cause dama.ge. In the lower part of the Kowai district, both the wheat and the oats promise a heavy yield; and along the terrace at Leithfield there are to be seen some of the best crops ever grown in that part of the district. At Ba 1 cairn the rust has made its appearance and has seriously damaged more than one crop. It does not seem to have extended very wide, but its appearance has made the fanners apprehensive, and a north-wester, if not too violent, would be acceptable just now. Around Amberley finer crops have seldom if ever been seen, and there should be some exceptionally good yields to record when the threshing machine does its work, if the season ends satisfactorily. In the Waikari district, the sale of the Horsley Downs property and the farms purchased from the Glenmark Estate has added fully 2000 acres to the land under cultivation, and the settlers have every reason to be well pleased with the condition of their crops. , Yields of 40 bushels of wheat and oats to the acre may be looked for if all goes well till harvest; and the root crops are also flourishing satisfactorily. Taking the Ashley County as a whole, the area under wheat is the largest for probably twelve or fourteen years, a fact due, of course, to the better prices ruling last season. The average yields, judging by present appearances, may safely be stated at for wheat 36 to 38 bushels to the acre, oats 40, and barley—of which there is not a large, although very fine quality crop—about 45 bushels. The high price of potatoes last season has led to a considerably extended area being sown, and excepting where the rain, drowned the seed, the crop is growing satisfactorily. As a result of the moist weather, the peas will be an exceptionally heavy crop, and the beans have made good growth, and look very healthy. The hay crop now being harvested. is only a medium one, the dryness of the early spring having retarded the growth of the grass. CHEVIOT. 1 The season of the year has arrived when a probable'estimate can be made of the crops at Cheviot. Since the heavy rain of Nov. 12 the growth, lias been most luxuriant, assisted by the frequent showers. The heavy thunderstorm which passed over the Domett Riding on Wednesday last, had the effect of laying down the crops considerably, and in some cases it will shorten the returns. The wheat crop in Domett is excellent, with abundance of straw, the heads uniform and filling to the utmost. The oats will be a heavy' yield, Messrs Wood’s and Puschel’s crops being exceptionally good. Mr Zuppecich is repeating his successes In barley this season, and anticipates a good price for this cereal. The Seaward Riding is more pastoral. A good payable crop of oats is that belonging to Mr E. H. Holton. Wheat is not grown so extensively in this riding as in some others. At the Waiair Riding, around Spotswoodjho wheat find oats are very heavy, this part of Cheviot being the cream of the district for corn-growing. The settlers residing here have been most fortunate in their selections. It would be difficult to pick out the best crop, the whole being nearly perfection. 'Those of Messrs James Stevenson, T. J. Gee, T. Vvilkinson, and Stevenson Bros, are exceptionally good. Mr Alfred Harrison, of Femside, who has just taken up a section, is having specially good luck in his venture. On the downs, Messrs M’Rae and Robinson Bros, are to the fore.this year in all their cropping. In the . Lowry Riding the crops of Messrs Haughey, Gick, Vaughan and Forbes are worthy of special mention. Amongst the best crops on Cheviot, both wheat and oats, are • those belonging to Mr Bruce. A tenacre section of Mr P. Cannon’s, at Home View, promises a yield of eighty bushels per acre. Messrs M!Rae and Robinson Bros., in the Waian district, are the principal barley growers, they having very good crops, which are already being cut. Should the nor’-west winds keep away, the yield of com on Cheviot this season will probably be upwards of 100,000 bushels, as the acreage under crop is much more than last year’s. The hay crop lias been secured in good condition, and some capital stacks are the result,.providing against a repetition of last winter’s scarcity of fodder. A little of the rape sown before the rains is rather stunted and discoloured. The later sowings have been suited by the recent rains, and they are exceedingly good, Mr Wood, of Domett, has the best paddock of rape* on Cheviot. In the Waiau district, Messrs J. Fleming, M’Rae, Robinson Bros., and Whatmans, have extra good paddocks of rape, in which. the lambs are feeding, ready for the fat lamb buyer. As the number of lambs will be greater’ than last year, and most probably in better condition, it should induce more buyers to visit Cheviot than formerly. The breadth of turnips is much in excess of last year’s, and the showers have given them a good start. With rape and turnips, 50,000 lambs should go off, Cheviot this year, in addition to fat sheep. The grain-growers on Cheviot are exercised in their minds as to how they are to get the grain away this season. All agree that a railway is very desirable, but even when that is commenced it will be a long time before it is available. A considerable section of the people are desirous of a pier being built at Port Robinson, at a cost of £7OOO. The present out-of-date surf-boat loading is a slow and expensive method. Doing array with the engine and its attendant expenses would nearly pay the interest of the £7OOO, and the freight coukb be conveyed at half the present rates, thus avoiding so ranch handling of cargo, 'which of necessity must damage it. The Christchurch merchants should interest themselves actively in this matter, and induce the agents of the present service to put on additional boats during the grain season, as tire storage at Port Robinson is very inadequate. The County Council obtained the timber to erect an additional shed, but .from’ some' cause it has not been built. The port in its present state is very remunerative to the Council. WEST CANTERBURY. In the Courtenay and adjacent districts, wheat, of which there is a very large area, looks remarkably well. , Rust made its appearance in some parts a fortnight ago, owing, no doubt, .to the unusual spell of damp, foggy weather, but it has not extended beyond the leaf, so it is not expected to seriously affect the yield. There arc also south remarkably fine crops of oats, and with satisfactory conditions as to weather, the heaviest yields per acre for many years will be recorded. There is practically no barley grown ; the one or two small .pieces are inferior crops. The area sown in rape is very large, and many farmers are unable to feed off owing to the scarcity of sheep. In a few cases farmers have sold their rape, bnt it is questionable whether the price obtained will cover tho expense of putting in. A great, deal of the rape is, however, sown on the lightest land in the district, and should tho north-west winds continue for a week, or ten days, a bit of green feed will, on a number of farms, be found useful. Turnips have been extensively sown and much earlier than in former years, large areas already covering the ground, and there is a good deal of land being prepared for later sowings. Hay is much more plentiful this season. The crops, in most cases, however, are light, the pasture being thin, the effect of the past dry seasons. There will also be a considerable quantity of grass-seed gathered. There is not a large area in potatoes ; but the crop looks really well. Mangolds and carrots are to be found on most farms, and are well forward. The whole district looks its best, a pleasing contrast to its aspect this time

People nowadays like ocular demonstration or positive proof of the virtue of medicines before taking them. That has been shown in the arse of De Winton’s Pills thousands of times over in this colony; the number of cases of Dyspepsia, Chronic Constipation, Stomach and Liver Complaints, Biliousness, Palpitation of the Heart, etc., that these pills have cured are uncountable. The public throughout this colony know that Byron De Winton’s Pills surpass everything in the way of medicine. All chemists, Is fid. 5

hist year. The harvest premises to be a bountiful one, and though the_prioes may be low, it is gratifying to look forward to the prospect of plenty of feed for all kinds of stock for next winter.

In Courtenay, amongst others, Messrs Addington, Finlay, Barrett and Robertson, have good crops. In Kimberley, Messrs Dysart, M’Clelland, Jackson and Manson have excellent fields. Messrs Clinton (Darfield), Cough, Storey, Ridgen add Rudd (Greendale), O’Malley, Page and Gough (Kirwee), and Watson (West Melton), are amongst those who have splendid crops. The probable yields may be put down at an -average of 25 bushels per acre for wheat—in a few cases there is promise of nearly double that amount; oats from 25 to 35 bushels—-in some cases 60 bushels will probably be threshed. ELLESMERE DISTRICT. As in every other Ideality, the Ellesmere district is more heavily cropped this season than it has ever been before ; in fact, a grass paddock is almost a rarity among the heavy and luxuriant grain crops which meet the eye, no matter in which direction it wanders. The reason of sucii a large area being down in cereals is not far to seek. Last year’s disastrous drought caused the entire extermination of grass in any but the heaviest lands, all the lighter lands having been wearing down for many seasons preceding. As the farmers anticipated a continuance of last season’s good prices for grain, and, on account of the enforced spell the land received last season through the comparative failure of all grain crops, an especially good yield this harvest, all the worn down pasture land was broken up, together with'the stubble paddocks, and it is not an exaggerated estimate to say that quite double the area is sown down this year that there was last. At present there is every indiciation that the anticipations of good yields will be fully realised. There is a considerable percentage of Pearl ■ wheat sown this season, and this variety seems to be coming on rapidly, and will probably be the first to bo harvested. Hunter’s White and Tuscan also are coming on well, each sort having a good strong straw. Rust seems to be keeping away fairly well, albeit a few crops on swampy land are slightly touched. Tire flag is the only part effected as yet, and the splendid shower of Tuesday last washed away much of the blight, and also had the effect of reviving a few crops which were just showing signs of going off a little. Although temporarily stopping haymaking operations, the shower was most providential, as, although a considerable amount of moisture fell, it rained so gently and mildly that it did not cause even the heaviest crops to lay, though many of them appeared to be in jeopardy in this respect. The season has been really marvellous, and straw, as well as grain, should be abundant in the “ land of pigs and peas. ” The following are a few of the crops which attracted special attention during a run through the district.

Starting'from Leeston towards Killinchy and Dunsandel, the farm occupied by Messrs Gilbert Bros, was the first to arrest notice. This homestead is surrounded bv a veritable sea of waving green, which should yield phenomenally well, if nothing comes to spoil the prospects. Mr C. C. Smithson, who has about fifty acres in wheat, should also have a satisfactory harvest. Mr D. Wills and Messrs Anderson Bros, share the fortunate prospects with their neighbour's, while the crops along the Killinchy Road, including those of* Messrs Moorhead, W. J. Lemon, Hogg Bros., R. Weavers, G. M’Clure, J. Donald, W. Lowery, and James Spence, are all a pleasing picture to contemplate. Farther on towards Dunsandel, Messrs D. O’Brien, AUan Bros., James Stackhouse, Cooper Bros., I. Sanderson, J. M’Kee, W. Nixon, T. Humphrey, T. Moorhead, and many others, have crops which will take more than the usual amount of handling at harvest time. Going on towards Brookside, Messrs Belton, Boag, Brooks, Cunningham, Withell, Washbourne, Taylor, and others, have both quantity and quality in all classes of grain crops, and Brookside should produce some wonderful yields when the threshing tallies are recorded. Going round towards the Irwell district, the fine crops on the estates of Messrs G. Stevens, J. Stevens and H. Gardiner were especially attractive. Mr Gardiner has a large paddock of barley, the like of which, perhaps, has never before been seen in the Ellesmere district. Messrs G. Bailey, W. M’Millan, R. Wright, J. Eaglesome, G. E. Rhodes and many others have grand crops. The Meadowbank Estate has over six hundred acres down in different sorts of crops, and baring nor’-westers and other “ unforeseen circumstances,” the productions from this magnificent estate promise to eclipse all previous yields. There are about 350 acres in wheat, 100 in oats, 50 in barley, 70 in turnips, 40 in rape, 25 in mangolds and patches of potatoes, field cabbage, swedes, etc., and it would be difficult to say which ■presents the most flourishing appearance. Going on towards Lake Ellesmere, the Bruce-.Coe Estate appears as though it will make up this year for the record for scarcity of bushels it put up last year. The estates of Messrs C. Coe, Amos, Allen, A. Quigley and others on the Irwell-Lakeside frontier are all in keeping with the general prospects of plenty. Coming back towards the main road, tho crops on the farms of Messrs Hurford, Gittins, Alexander M’Lachlan, John M’Lachlan and others, were all looking remarkably well. Crossing the main road, the estates of Messrs Archibald M’Lachlan, W. Chambers, J. Naim, J. Kelly, B. O’Neil, J. Bell, Archibald M’Lachlan, jun., Mrs Lemon and others all bear evidence of the wealth of growth this favourable season has produced. Striking back at a tangent, the crops of Messrs J. Fay, A. Webster, A. Anderson, sen., W. Marshall and others promise that the output from the Ellesmere district this year will be enormous.

Tlie appearance of the crops about Leeston, down, towards Lakeside, and on to Sedgemere and Taumutu are all good, and to attempt to enumerate one-third of those crops which promise a yield of forty bushels or over, would require the entire issue of this paper. Not only do cereal crops look splendid, but there are hay crops, and pastures that would have been, thought impossible after the devastated appearance of the couni

try this time last year. Extensive preparations are being made already to secure a good start for harvesting, and the greatest problem at present appears to be how sufficient labour will be procurable. Any able-bodied man that does not find work to do during the next three months will undoubtedly be a “ dead-beat ” of the most confirmed type.

AKAROA. The prospects of the cocksfoot harvest on the Peninsula are exceedingly good, and the heavy rains of a few weeks ago have had a markedly beneficial effect. The area shut up is about the same as last ysar. Every year shows a greater area of land ploughed for rape and turnips, and this year is no exception, the farmers being fully alive to the value of finishing lambs on rape. The crops are looking well, and turnips are well forward. An average area of land is under oats, and these are deing well. The increased price obtainable now for cheese and the present abundance of feed ■ are causing Peninsula farmers to look forward to a good return for the season. ASHBURTON COUNTY. The present season will be a record one so far as acreage goes, and from present appearances should almost equal the best previous average yield per acre. The crops went in with the land m the best of order, and favoured with a few nice showers, came away well. During the spring they made rapid growth, and farmers were sanguine that they were going to have the very best season that they had ever had; but an unusually destructive nor’-wester, in September, damped their hopes, and seriously injured a large number of crops in the county. The most damage was done on that portion of the county lying between the Rakaia and the Hinds,, and from five to twenty miles above the railway line. ■ Owing, no doubt, to the very fine condition into which the land had been worked previous to sowing, the soil was blown to a considerable depth, and but for a fine rainfall immediately after the wind, half the crops in the county would have been spoiled. As it was, the crops rapidly recovered, and although the yield on the worst blown fields will be reduced by one half, they are better than anvone would have expected who saw them immediately after the storm. Starting with the Wakanui district, the crops, and the country generally, never looked better. There is half as much again land under crop, and there is absolutely no comparison in the appearance of the crops with those of last season. Early in the season it was feared that the crops would be too heavy in the straw, but the long spell of dry weather since the middle of November, hardened them up, and with reasonable weather for filling and harvesting, the crops here will be veiy good, probably equalling the very best crops of former years. Passing out on to the plains, the acreage is still much above the average, and anything early sown is sure to yield well; The wind did not do any serious damage below the line, and even the lightest land looks remarkably well. Above the line, and travelling towards Methven, the effects of the wind are still plainly seen; the new settlers at Highhank have suffered severely. Still, the country and the crops are looking better than for some yeai-s past. Cameron’s country and Winchmore are somewhat disappointing, this usually fine stretch of wheat country having suffered very severely from the wind. The crops are patchy and will not produce more than an average yield. The average will be about the same as last year. There is never a very large extent of wheat grown close under the hills, but what there is looks fairly well, and, with plenty of rain, the grass is abundant. From Mayfield to Westerfield the effects of the wind are still plainly visible, many crops about Westerfield never having recovered. Laghmor looks better than it has done for many years past. An unusually large amount of work has been done on this property during the pa.st year, and it has been almost entirely changed from an old-fashioned sheep station into a modern, highly-cultivated estate. The area under crop is very large, and many of the old worn-out pastures have been put into turnips and rape, so that the land is covered with verdure.

About Tinwald the crops are heavy and the acreage unusually large. Throughout the county south of the Ashburton river, between the sea and the railway line,, including Plemington, Longbeach and,, Coldstream, the crops are looking as well as in any part of the county, and there will be some very heavy crops of wheat, oats and barley. The bulk of the crops in all parts of the county is wheat, and there should be a very large surplus for export. The acreage under, any other cereal crop is comparatively small, oats not being much more than enough, even with the good yield expected, to supply local requirements, and very few fields of barley, peas or beans are to be seen. There is an unusually large area in turnips and rape, and a great lot of grass has been sown. On the whole, the country looks wonderfully well, and the harvest should be one of the best ever seen in Ashburton.

SOUTH CANTERBURY. The area under crop this season is large, probably exceeding that of last year by fully 15 per cent. ' It will be remembered that a considerable number of acres last season could not be cultivated properly, owing to the excessive drought, and the grass-seed also failing, a far larger area was available for cropping than would have been the case in a general way. There was, in addition, the prospect at sowing time that wheat would command a more than payable figure, and this of itself is responsible for a certain amount of speculative and perhaps not quite legitimate cropping. The season may be said to have favoured the district generally. Little difficulty was experienced in preparing the ground, and the hulk of the crop was got in very well indeed. There were frequent and occasionally heavy rains, and these suited a large area of the down lands about Otaio, Timaru, Pareora, Totara, Upper Waitohi and Hilton, and further back, the Albnry and Fairlie districts, all of which had suffered from drought, the sub-soil never really having been moistened for a couple of years. These rains were welcome also on ‘ that stretch 1 of flat but varying quality of land abutting on the railway line, but the rich swamp lands all along the coast and the occasional patches further inland were better served last year by the drought. The actual area under cereals cannot easily be arrived at, although an effort is being made to push on with the statistics. It is difficult to estimate what the harvest will be, as the weather 1 has been somewhat erratic, wind succeeding lain rather closely, and there having been at intervals sudden extremes of heat and cold. The crops at Otaio, Pareora and Kingsdown looked very promising indeed until recently, when there ensued a yellowish tinge that foretells a sickening. On the coast line, right from the Waitaki to the Rangitata wheat has been if anything almost too good, and recent rains, although local in character, have put down a good few acres. The Milford crops promise to be on the heavy side, but after crossing the Orari, the crops look generally good, and the yield will, bar accidents, be far in excess of that of last year. On patches of light land, which occur here rather frequently, there is a slight sign of scorching, but not sufficient, unless very hot weather sets in to

damage these forward crops materially. /I he Seadown district should thresh well this year, and some crops give promise of yielding up to fifty bushels per acre. The Levels Plains look fairly well, but rain will be required to keep tho crops going. The down country from Washdyke to Albury and all the Totara Valley give promise of good yelds, and the crops here look capital. Upper Waitohi, Hilton, Gapes’s Valley, Woodbury and Straggler*s Flat are all carrying crops which so far promise well, and those about Temuka, Winchester and Ohapi are excellent in appearance, except in the rather too frequent cases where wild turnip is in evidence. Of the special settlements more recently acquired, it is probable the best yields will be recorded from Albury—provided wind keeps off—the Arowhenua block and portions of Rangitairi. The Pareora and Orakipaoa settlements are m small areas, and crops of cereals are not important. Last year the returns from Arowhenua, Albury and Rakitairi were very disappointing. Settlers got their crops in badly, the weather was against them, and to windup, there came disastrous winds at Albury. This vear matters look far more favourable, and they should recoup their losses. Just at present there is every prospect of ■an average yield of wheat over the whole of South Canterbury, including as this does a fair proportion of shingly plains, of about thirty bushels per acre—there are plenty of crops that should yield fifty, but past experience leads to the assumption that the swamp lands will not thresh. so well this year as last, and that oh the ddwnlands the crops will fall off unless kept going by showers for another fortnight or three weeks, as the surface is very caked, and as what helps one hurts the other, and nor -westers have vet to be feared, a more reasonable estimate may be about twenty-seven bushels. Oats should average forty-five and barley perhaps thirty-five bushels. . The proof, of course, will be the threshing mill. NORTH OTAGO. The crops in this district continue to fulfil the early promise of a good harvest, but unless rain falls soon these prospects will be considerably discounted. - Indeed, in some districts the grain is already suffering, although on the day subsoil land the growth continues strong and healthy. We have had a satisfactory absence of high winds, and, with a few good showers, the crop would be assured. There is considerable territory under wheat this year, all the new settlements showing large areas under crop. Oats are about up to the usual acreage, and potatoes fully so. At Duntroon (Maerewhenua Settlement), rain is much needed, and so it is all down the Waitaki Valley, where every available acre is under crop. On the Toka. Rahi Settlement the crops, though not so heavy as they at one time promisied to be, are looking well, and are not so badly in want of rain. In the Waiareka Valley the want of moisture is again apparent. On the Ardgowan Settlement the crops are looking well. Taken all round, prospects are that the production will be above tbe average, and that wheat will bulk largely in the harvest. Stocks of old on hand, are limited. Tbe pastures are in great heart, and are looking splendid.