THE MARI BOROUGH HARVEST

Marlborough Express, Volume LI, Issue 6, 8 January 1917, Page 4

THE MARI BOROUGH HARVEST

GOOD RETURNS

Harvesting operations are in full swing throughout Marlborpugh, being conducted under favorable conditions. Labor is not plentiful, but the situation is materially assisted by cooperation among the farmers, who are helping each other to an unprecedented extent.

The yield of barley is a satisfactory one, and the few samples that have been threshed out reveal good quality. The market has opened, 4s 6d per bushel being paid for a limited number of lots to hand.

There is a large production of oaten sheaves this season. The quality, generally spsalcing, is very fair, though it is on the rough side in the districts whore heavy growth prevailed, vetches having made their appearance. There is a. tremendous output of oaten sheaves in the Avvatere district., which was a. very light producer in the foregoing seasons on account of the dryness, "and this accession greatly swells the general production. The ruling price for new chaff is £2 15s per ton to the farmers in the stook, which is ooniewhat less than lasti year's valu<?. A feature of the season is the" unusual proportions of the grass-seed harvest. A heavy growth of rye-grass, was' induced by the plenteous rain, and the shortage of stock allowed 'much of it to go to seed. Extensive areas have been stripped in both the Blenheim and the Awatere districts. No sales have yet been reported.