CANTERBURY SUFFERING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXII, Issue 19125, 17 September 1925, Page 14

CANTERBURY SUFFERING.

CROP PROSPECTS BAD. HEAVY LAMBING MORTALITY. [by telegraph.—own correspondent.] ASHB TJ Pi TON, Wednesday. Spring is now getting on and if tho weather docs not take up socn the farmers in the Ashburton County will be facing a serious position both Vegarding crops aud the flock. The weather of the past month or two has been very bad for farm work and now that the lambs are hero good warm days are more than ever needed. Tho autumn-sown crops of wheat are being laid flat by wind and rain and spring sowing so far has been impossible. Generally speaking this year has been reoro unfavourable than any for many seasons past and as far as can bo gathered from representative men throughout. the comity a continuance of the present "weather till the end of the present month will have the result of shutting out any ■wheat not yet in and will in all probability ruin. that sown in the autunm. In view of tho guarantee of prices made by the Government it was anticipated that tho sowing of wheat this year would show a substantial increase over tho figures of recent years but work has bo retarded to such an extent that these expectations are hardly likely to bo realised. The land is saturated with moisture lind at present large areas airo under water. Heavy snow has fallen at frequent intervals and there is very little feed available for new-born lambs. Each day heavy mortality is reported from some districts and frequently deaths have occurred among the mothers. Further down toward the coast the lambing season is further advanced and the mortality has not been so heavy. Only a sudden change and most favourable conditions generally will enable an area equal to last year to bo sown and the chaaces are that even less will be under crop.