SOUTHERN CONDITIONS

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXI, Issue 6870, 14 July 1909, Page 3

SOUTHERN CONDITIONS

A GOOD OUTLOOK. 'Although operations were somewhat retarded by the recent rain, farmers are still pursuing their ploughing operations with vigour (says the Camara "Mail”)- Indications are that an exceptionally largo area will this year be devoted to the ' growing of wheat, the low price now ruling for_ oats, and tho prospects of a shortage in the world s wheat supply, constituting the latter cereal a much safer and more remunerative proposition. A gentleman whoso business takes him over the whole of the North Otago district vouchsafes the opinion, backed, he gays, by the opinion of others, that it is many years since tho agricultural outlook was so promising,as at the present time, or when farmers were blessed with such an abundance of-feed for the carry-

ins’ of their stock over the winter months. Stock are indeed looking ’welt, and on some of the pasturages many oi tliem are rnnnins half fat. The Ashburton ’‘Guardian steles that a gentleman, who is in a position t-i speak with authority on the question, says that he has no remembrance of stock looking so well at this period of tha season for years past, and there is every probability of sheep coming through the winter in first-class condition. Tho winter pasturage on the’hilly country has pot been covered to any great depth with snow. In his opinion, there is a slight improvement in tne sheep and lamb market, and an upwaid tendency may be expected in consequence of the hardening of the Home wool markets. As far as the frozen meat export trade is concerned, sheejv breeders need not anticipate in the future anything like the prices that have ruled for lambs during the past lew years.