VICTORIA. THE RECENT HARVEST.

Otago Witness, Issue 380, 12 March 1859, Page 1

VICTORIA. THE RECENT HARVEST.

(From the Agricultural Gazette, January.) j Considerable variety of opinion exists among I the agricultural and commercial classes a.s to the actual produce of the harvest now terminating. The season, which had been most unfavourable during that period at which the vigour of the crops is generally unimpaired by , drought or excessive rains, led to gloomy foreboding as to the yield ; and although, in many instances, the crops have benefited by the raj ther unseasonable showers of rain that have j pretty generally fallen throughout the coun- ! try, stili there is not nearly so good a return as a more favourable season would have yielded. I We have made inquiries from reliable sourcet ! in several districts, and are of opinion thas < there is no real cause for apprehension that ' wheat, hay, oats, or potatoes will reach extravagant prices during the current year. ; The wheat crop, although very good and j very abundant in some portions of the Western j district, and also on some of the higher lands | near the coast ranges, has been generally light '< in quantity, ranging from 8 to 25 bushels per acre; but the quality of the grain in these light crops is the finest we have ever seen, the i late rains having given it a plumpness and ro- ' tundity seldom, if ever equalled. The most of, it has also been well secured. Our own crops ' of wheat are not at all likely to produce sufficient for our consumption ; but there is a superabundant crop in South Australia, much j of which has already found its way to our market, which will prevent anything like a scarcity of food here. Besides this, large quantities of wheat are likely to be imported from Britain and America, s.o that it becomes a serious question with the farmers whether they ought to accept the prices now ranging, or trust to the vicissitudes of our very fluctuating market. ] In the hay crop there is a great deficiency compared with last year's produce, as much, in many localities, ,as 50 per cent. The same cause which has partially injured the wheat crop — the rains — Iras done much mischief in deteriorating the quality of the hay.

Judging from the appearance of the potato crops, we are afraid that these will be little better generally than any of the grain crops. The rains have in many places caused a second growth, which will compel the farmer either to take them up immediately, or to trust to the second crop — a rather precarious experiment. We have seen many fine-looking fields of tops or haulms, but the tubers were no larger than walnuts, and these have generally been planted according to the dangerous method of placing manure in the drills, and then laying the sets on the manure. We are perfectly satisfied that this is a bad system of potato planting in this country.

Tn the Legislative Assembly, on the Bth nit. Mr. O'Shanassy read the following paper :—: — GENERVL PLAN" OP THE LAND HILL TO BE SUBMITTED 12Y GOVERNMENT TO NEXT PARLI UIENT. It is intended that the measure shall embrace the following provisions : — 1. That laige areas of agricultural land shall bp proclaimed near the chief centres of population, within which areas ordinary farm lots, in no case exceed ; ng 320 acres, will be open to selection by bonafide settlers, without auction, at a fixed price of £\ per acre. 2. That within these areas the unsold land shall constitute a free commonage for the settlers, subject to regulations to be made in an agricultural municipality, 3. That an enlarged municipal system be constructed, embracing agricultural districts as well as towns, under which system the inhabitants will possess a dirpct control over the local expenditure for public purposes at present defrayed out of the general revenue, such municipalities to obtain a ceitain proportion of endowment out of the public pstate, and the power of levying an equitable taxation on fixed property, in lieu of the grants in aid now provided for out of the estimates. 4. That common pasturage be secuied by law to the inhabitants of all towns and Gold-fields where Crown lands exist. 5. That water fiontngcs throughout the Inteiior be reserved in perpetuity tor public use. 6". That all auriferous land be reseived from sale. 7. That all town and suburban lands, and such other lands as may be rendered peculiaily valuable by their position, shall continue to be sold by publip auction, and that piovision be made for hona jide settlers who may require larger allotments th.iv are piovidod for in the agricultural areas. 8. That at a per'od to bp fixed by law rll preferable occupancy of the public domain by the pastoral tenants now in possession sh'ill absolutely cpa&a and determine. 9. That in the meantime the pastoral tenants l shall continue to ivceive an annual license, tevo- ! cable on such notice, and held at such lent, as the Legislature may determine. The hou. member continued. There wore two 1 points on which two membeis of the Government desired him to expiess their special views, which - were as follows • — SIM.CIW. STATTMEN'TS. 1. One member of the Cabinet would wish to make the expeiiinent of defcucd payments in one i arei. I 1 2. In lefeience to the piineiple of selection withi in specified aieas, another member of the Cabinet ! would prefer the implication of the piinciple to the | whole countiy. ! Hut both, rather than iisk the success of a Bill I based on the principles n heady stated, would sup • poit the proposed measure.