HARVESTING NOTES.

Otago Witness, Issue 1581, 11 March 1882, Page 6

HARVESTING NOTES.

A good deal has lately been said by our correspondents and others about the state of theicrops, and the proapeot of a good harvett \ in the different districts throughout the province, the opinion generally vouchsafed belpg. that the yield of 1882 will fall consider, j ably below that of the past few years. So far j we* have no grounds upon which to contradict or doubt this fuuertton. Up to the present time we may assart that the weather hat been ifairly favourable, for harvesting operations in most parts of the Province, unless the thunderstorm with whioh we wera visited on Saturday las v has also been experienced in other districts. The spring of last year was, however, anything but favourable to tbe growth of cereals. This wftj more especially the case in the northern part*, when for a long time tbe young crops were 'at a standstill for waat of moisture. On the low lands matters were not »o bad, bnt it bad been predicted that the crops on the ridge* would be a complete failure. As the season -wore on thin became only too apparent, and now it seems that in many places there are fields of grain that will never pay the harvest expenses. The returns will in a few days be to hand, and thtn we will be able to speak with some degree of certainty on the subject. We say- with some degree of certainty, because for obvious reasons these returns are.not always reliable. In the firat place, the statistics are •collected early in the year, before one half of the crops are out. Thus n» account is taken of. the losses that may result from wind, rain, and other unforeseen circumstances. Again, most agriculturists have great faith in the grain-produbing oapabili iea of their land, and those who are inclined to ' blow ' usnally give exaggerated aocounts of their yields. Very many do not like to Bay that their wheat will average less than 30 bushtsla per acre, for if they let down less tbau this they fear they will bo looked down upon by their neighbours, who will then accuse them of alovenly husbandry ; or maybe people will make out that their land is of ft very poor nature, father than have saoh remarks paisod about them they maintain that their yields are good, and quite up to the average standard in any part of the district, The fallacy uf this practice is at onoe apparent. When the returns c»me to hand they are totted np by the Government officials, with the result that the yield is made tut to be a very satisfactory one, and, in reality, much in excess' of what it roally is. Mea-itiiua tbe larger buyers, commission agents, and a host of others, ever ready to play upon the'gullibllity of the Colonjal farmer, have been anxiously awaiting the returns. When these have oome to band they sac there is a large surplus of grain in the Colony, - and of course fix their prices accordingly. Thus the prices remain at a low standard, for Some considerable time, and it is not until most of the grain is lodged in the hands of a few that the prioen begin to assume an upward tendency. Tnus is the farmer very frequently in some degree himself to blame for the depression in the grain market. We do not say that every farmer is alike to blame in this matter. Many, we know, give in what they oonscien* tionsly believe to be the co-reck averages, and some purposely keep a good deal below the mark. The former, however, may be mis* taken, for they do not know what losses they may have through climatic influences. This year, we fancy, we will be within the mark In stating the Average yield of oata for the northern part of the Province at about 30 bushels. JHW mw, «tyl (or tbfl pawfetra portion! »«

about 10 bushels per acre above this. As to the yield of wheat it will ba very low in the southern parts, but probably uofc far short of the usual standard in the O.waaru and surrounding districts. We have frequently mentioned about the ravages o( the sparrows and linneta so that most people will have an idea to what extent the crops hare been damaged by these pesta. Very few, however, have an adequate .idea of the havoc at present being caused by the rabbits In Southland, and even in some parts of this Provincial Distriot Near Gore, where the fields of wheat are ripening, whole acres of com have been cut down ai if by a reapiag maohine, The rabbits oome over In large numbers from M'lntyre's run, and nip off the ■talks of wheat an inch or two below the ear. They take everything clean before them, scarcely missing a siogle ear, and every two or three days one sees signs of their advance Into the field. Some farmers, thinking their whole crop will be destroyed, have already started to out the orop in its green state, with the intention of making hay with which to feed the cattle in the winter time. Oa moat of these farms the rabbits were poisoned during the winter, but they are now as numerous, if not more so, than ever. Some of the settlers started to lay poisoned grain daring the rammer months, but soon found that very little of it was eaten up. Oa the runs, too, the rabbits are swarming, notwithstanding the fact that rabbiter* have j been engaged throughout the winter months, some of them, according to their own statement, making at the rate of 10a per day by the sale of skins. It really appears that some very stringent measures will have to be adopted before the settlers can cope with the rabbit pest. Some have been thinking of employing rabbiters both day and night to protect their crops, but even this method may not have the desired result. It is impossible in a Bhort article of this description to deal, with so comprehensive a matter, and we can only at present point out the extent to which the evil has grown, and the effect it will have on the grain-growing parts of the district.