THE CROPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1005, 4 March 1871, Page 1

THE CROPS.

Although harvest in many districts is scarcely over, we are enabled by means of our annual report, which appears in another page, to form a fair estimate of the nature of the crops. That they are lighter throughout the province as compared with last season is the opinion of nearly all our correspondents. This is mainly due, no doubtj to the continued drought in the spring; but a perusal of our report will show that other causes are operating against increased weight in our crops. In soaie of the oldest farming districts, where the soil is naturally of a rioh quality, the falling off is most peroeptible ; and our Green Island correspondent probably divines the cause when he says, ' farmers are also beginning to see that land cannot bear repeated orops without being reinvigorated by manure, and every effort is now being made to have a suitable supply given to the soil.' The area of land under crop as compared with land laid down in grass appears to have decreased. This circumstance may be partly attributable to the low price ruling for farm produce of every description) but is owing also to the necessity which exists for giving rest to the over-cropped soil. Wheat nowhere has proved a heavy crop, but the grain is likely to be of superior quality. Rust and blight have made their appearance in many districts, but no complaints are made of serious injury having been done to the crop in consequence. The quantity of wheat grown has apparently decreased, but notwithstanding this fact, we still produce more than is sufficient for our own requirements. We were led to believe some months ago, that a materially increased breadth of land in barley would have resulted from the demand for that grain caused by malting operations in Dunedin. In the Otepopo district alone, where 800 acres of t-hi« cereal were sown last season, only 400 acres have been reaped, and in several other districts thedecrease has been in the same proportion. Ont> correspondent says that the bad market has checked the cultivation of barley. Further explanation on this subject, however, is required, as we have no reason to believe that wheat and oats have been fetching proportionately higher prices than barley. From the extensive acreage laid down in oats, it will be seen that that grain still monopolises the attention of the Otago farmer. Oats have yielded a fair return this season, and the grain is generally of a good quality. On hill land, however, and on ridges, it is deficient in straw ; but where the land is moist and low-lying the crop is said to be quite up to the average, and, in Borne instances, even superior to that of former seasons. Some fields of oate have been blighted, and rust has also made its appearance. At Oamaru, our correspondent mentions that in some places the oats on hill faces lying to the sun, are almost destroyed by aphis. UVom most districts we learn that grass is poor, owing to the spring drought, and that the hay crop is thin and short. On the low lying rich soils of the Clutha farms, however, grass is reported to be both abundant and excellent in quality. At Oamaru, and especially at Totara, the late rains have been of immense benefit to this crop. Turnips, ■which are not grown in large quantities, are generally reported to be an indifferent crop, and to be suffering at present from the want of rain. Potatoes are up to the average, but in some places the growth of the plants has been considerably retarded by the early frosts. Little allusion is made in any of our reports to the subject of dairy produce. Our Portobello and Broad Bay correspondent mentions that * owing to the great depreciation that has talcta .plage in the value of butter, gwny of &c »tiHm tor* turned

their attention to the making o£j cheese, but the result at present is not ! very encouraging.' He goes on to say, J that the * establishment of a cheese factory on a more extended scale has been mentioned by some dairy farmers, and it is believed that if such an undertaking could be taken in hand with competent skill and sufficient capital, the result would be beneficial not only to the parties themselves, but to the community,' We have no hesitation in saying, from our own knowledge, that some of the Otago cheeses, especially those produced in the Taieri, are fully equal, if not superior, to any which can be produced in the colonies, and we expect soon to see, when their production is sufficiently extensive to enable them to be appreciated, the Engglish artiole completely driven out of the market. In the direction of planting, less has been done, we regret to say, than we expected. More attention is certainly being paid to the rearing of live fences, but in few places do we hear that forest trees are being raised. It is creditable to the mining community that they should be amongst the few whose practical efforts have been turned in this direction. Our Dunstan report informs us that * five additional acres of vines and one of orchard trees have been planted in the neighbourhood of Clyde. Numerous forest trees have been planted on freehold sites at the townships of Clyde, Alexandra, and •Cromwell ; and at Blacks also trees are being planted gradually every season.' At Waiwera, the settlers appear to have been discouraged in their attempts to promote arboriculture, as our correspondent there writes to the following effect : — * A good deal of planting has been gone on with, especially blue gum trees, but that is more particularly in the hilly parts of the district. From the exposed situation of the low lying parts of this neighbourhood to the high winds which prevail at certain seasons of the year, it becomes a very difficult matter to rear young trees, and the majority of the settlers have abandoned the attempt/