FARMING AND CROPS AT WAIRARAPA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXVIII, Issue 8477, 30 January 1891, Page 3

FARMING AND CROPS AT WAIRARAPA.

The weather for the past month has been dry, accompanied with high winds, and the pastures have suffered much in consequence ; in fact, with the exception of a few light showers which were scarcely sufficient to lay the dust, we have not had a drop of rain since tlio Ist of December, whereas Wellington and the West Coast have been favoured with copious rainfalls. The whole of the pasture throughout the Wairarapa and Whareama districts are in a fearful dry state, and in many places fires have travelled through 'miles of country, burning up feed and fencing, and killing quantities of sheep, and unless rain comes very soon, it will be a very serious outlook for winter pasture. Turnip crops, of whiclj there is a great increase over previous years, are looking very seedy, and it is the general impression than on many farms and runs the failures through drought will necessitate a second sowing. Grain crops have been seriously affected for the want of rain, and the yields will be far behind that of last season. Mostly all the oat crops are cat and harvested, and a few lots are threshed, and some cut into sheaf chaff; but the same tale comes from all, that the yields are light. The wheat crops are not so seriously affected, as the wheat stands drought better than most cereals. With respect to the lat-o potato crops, it is impossible to make any positive statement as yet, but with a fair amount of rain within a few weeks they will carry on all right-, and make a big percentage per acre. The sheep-shearing season is aboutended, nearly all the clips being sent to Wellington for export. Sheepowners' reports from all directions are to the effect that the clips this season have been much heavier than any one previous, a fact mainly due to the very mild winter and the abundance of feed all through, and rabbits being kept under. Speaking of rabbits, the Rabbit Department still wage a furious war with the runholders, and prosecutions are still going on. One runholder has recently been fined £15, it being proved that he had not taken efficient steps to kill bunny. The following weights of wool are given as clipped from the champion Lincoln ram at the late show, and others for sale only : 231b, 241 b, and 261b. Breeders, Messrs. Rayner, Reid, and Menlore. I regret to have to report that a serious epidemic has broken out of late in this district amongst horses, and with very fatal effects. The malady appears somewhat in the form of strangles, affecting the throat, head, skin, and the heart, and has puzzled those most skilled in the treatment of the ills which horses aro heir to, including the Government veterinarian, Mr. McLean, who was sent up to ascertain the nature of the malady, but his efforts were totally unavailing to save the stock. The well-known sporting owner Mr. W. B. Buick lost 12 in all, including some valuable racing and draught stock. The Messrs. Bidwell, I hear, have lost six valuable draught horses, and it is likely to visit other stables in the valley, before which, I trust, some means or cure will be discovered to eradicate it.— [Own Correspondent.]