FARMING MATTERS THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE.

Otago Witness, Issue 1460, 8 November 1879, Page 4

FARMING MATTERS THROUGHOUT THE PROVINCE.

The weather still continues to be extremely favourable for the young crops, the occasional showers and genial sunshine tending to give the growing crops and grass paddocks a very promising aspect. Both our correspondeuts and our exchanges speak in glowing terms of the healthy appearance of almost every district in the Province, and if this year's harvest is not an abundant one, it certainly will not be owing to a lack of favourable circumstances in the beginning of the year. Our Bast Taieri correspondent informs us that the young braird is very healthy, and from all appearances is as yet entirely free from all grubs and other insects. Potatoes are in great favour judging from the quantity planted this year. The majority'Jtiave now started with the rest of the green crops. The few patches of black crops— beans and peas are now well forward, some of them being in bloom. The grass fields are looking well, and feed is plentiful. Our Waitahuna correspondent writes : — "A variable, mild, and moderately moist spring has been experienced in this locality. The season appears to be a favourable one for all agricultural and pastoral purposes. It is what may be termed a 'flowering season.' Everything looks well in field and garden, and growth is well on —fields of corn and pasture showing well. Natural pasture also shows a spring coating. Many indigenous plants also indicate a season of blossom and fruit. The fuschia bears this season, and is now most attractive to bees, which circumstance led me to observe that other wild plants were giving similar signs of seed bearing. With such indications in the wilds, we may not wonder at the promising appearance of cultivated fruits which are now forming fast, and if the rest of the year should be favourable will yield gross crops. So far there has been a marked absence of late frosts and drought from cold northeast winds, and the earth maintains a normal moisture. Grasshoppers already appear, and the brown beetle is numerous, and above ground at night. It would appear that these come to balance the profusion of vegetation." Our Lovell's Flat correspondent writes :—": — " There is no particular kind of work going ahead on the farms afc this season of the year, and our farmers are variously employed — the preparing of ground for the turnip crop keeping some in employment, while others are busy breaking up new land. There has been a lot of new land broken up in this district every year during the past three or four years. Previously cropping was pretty much confined to the low-lying ground that constitutes "the flat," but latterly the influence of the " double-furrows " have been brought to bear on the surrounding ridges. These are now fast losing the barren sheep run sort of appearance that had hitherto characterised them, and verdant pastures and fields of wheat and oats are fast taking the place of the flax, fern, and tussock. With such favourable changes going on as a guide, it does not require much of a profit to foresee a prosperous future for this place." From the Clutha Leader we learn that "in the whole of the districts from Tokomairiro to Mataura

! the crops are looking exceedingly well, and promise an abundant harvest. The general remark ia that the crops have not for many years looked so well at this oarly season as they now do." In Mount Ida, we learn from the local journal : " The season so far as been one of the most favourable for the carrying on of agricultural operations. The farmers are jubilant at existing indications of an excellent harvest, the crops looking remarkably well. In the Blacks district the weather lately has been everything that could be desired for agricultural purposes, and the crops are looking fine." — The Dunstan Timeajsays : — "The weather of the past week has been exactly what was wanted to give a start to the crops, which are all now in. Thepaddocks of autumn wheafc, of which there are a good many, are looking splendid, and the fine showers that have fallen during the week cannot but improve them. In view of supplying what the market haa been deficient in for some time past — namely, fat mutton and beef — we hear that a large area in one part of the district and another is sown with turnips. A wiser thing we do not think could possibly have been done, and we prophecy the owners will have a good return." — The Wakatip Mail says: — "The crops throughout the district are looking remarkably well, and there ia, we are happy to say, every prospect of an abundant harvest. Here the lovely weather which has reigned so long has received a check during the past two or three -days by some heavy showers and a cooler atmosphere." — The Ofcaria correspondent of the Mataura Ensign writes that the young crops are looking well in that district, and gives promise of an abundant harvest ; and the Wairuna correspondent of the same journal says that the crops in the Wairuna district are well forward compared with last year. The cereal crops are briarded, and promise well, potatoes are all planted, and the settlers are now preparing the land for turnips. — The N.O. Times says the late seasonable rains have had a good effect on the crops in the North Ofcago and South Canterbury districts. In the neighbourhood of Timaru, the young crops are looking magnificent. The pastures, too, are exceptionally fine. The Southland papers tell the same tale ; and taking ifc all in all, the season Beems to be one of the most promising, so far, that we have experienced for some years.