CANTERBURY'S CROPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18889, 11 December 1924, Page 11

CANTERBURY'S CROPS.

EXCELLENT PROSPECTS.

SMALL AREA IN WHEAT.

VERY SATISFACTORY SEASON.

The opinion that the country in Canterbury had never looked better than it does at present was expressed by the members of the party who accompanied the Hon. J. G. Coates on his trip from Lake Coleridge through the Rakaia Gorge, Methven, Ashburton, Ealing, Geraldine, Orari, Temuka, and Fairlie, to Lake Tekapo last Saturday.

At one farm in the Methven district a splendid crop of oats was already in stook. The growing crops which were seen during the- day looked exceptionally healthy and well grown. The small amount of wheat which is being grown this season was particularly noticeable, comparatively few crops being seen. Fields of oats appeared to bo fairly numerous.

A pleasing feature was the excellent growth of grass on the light pasture lands, there being evidence everywhere that the farmers are experiencing & most satisfactory season. Commenting on the small amount of wheat being grown, a South Canterbury farmer remarked that farmers could not be blamed for neglecting wheat and turning their attention to sheep, considering the high prices now being paid for wool and lamb. " Under the oircumstances at. present," he added, " a farmer would be foolish to stick to wheat-growing, which is all right in times of national crisis. The thing to guard against now is inflation of land values. If a lot of fools start forcing land values up, there wili bo trouble."