THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXII, Issue 7270, 7 March 1885, Page 5

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

[bt telegraph.—own correspondent.] Chsistchurch, Thursday. The weather this week is a cruel disappoint* ment to the farmers. A tremendous quantity of rain has fallen, not continuously, but spread over the whole week, and mostly in extremely heavy showers. Last night some of the lowest streets were flooded, and some damage done in one or two shops, a thing thab very rarely occurs since the Drainage Board built their sewers. In 16 hours 1'95 inches fell, and since Monday the total is 2 69, or within a very small fraction of the whole fall last month. The effect on the crops is thus described in the weekly report of the Corn Exchange :—" Expectations of improved weather have not been realised, the torrent of rain which fell from Wednesday evening to Thursday morning have damped both grain and the hopes of farmers to a very considerable extent. Large areas of stock will be seriously injured by the deluge, more especially as the temperature is ao high as sprouting must inevitably follow. It is feared that the uncut wheat will be so beaten down as to entail great difficulty in reaping it. Altogether' the outlook ig very, unpromising, and lias cast quite a gloom over the agricultural districts. The only gleam of comfort being the prospect of better prices for those who were fortunate enough to have early, crops. The anxiety of farmers to secure their crops has prevented their appearance in'the market, consequently less business has transpired than is usual at this time of year,