WEATHER AND CROPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 1933, 25 February 1892, Page 7

WEATHER AND CROPS.

The past week (says the Tapanui Courier) has been a very disappointing one to the fanners of this district. An immense amount of crop now stands ready for harvest, and almost every day the rain has fallen to stop operations. At the latter end of last week the Tapanui Flat * settlers, who are, as a rule, first in the field, had several patches opened up, and on Monday morning, almost before the corn was dry in the ear, they were at it at an early hour, many large gaps being visible by evening, notwithstanding that rain threatened all day to end their work. Yesterday the frequent showers prevented cutting being carried on. The crops generally are very heavy in all parts of the district, and the farmers' only difficulty is in harvesting the portions that have been beaten down, and many of them are at a loss to know how it will be accomplished. At Dunrobin we understand that some fields, reckoned at 80 bushels to the acre, are completely flattened. Some exceptionally good yields should be forthcomiug in wheat and oats. The contractor for cutting 50 acres of grass at Brooksdale last week informs us that it was the heaviest paddock he ever touched, and took no less than 51b of twine to the acre to tie the stuff. Mr William Kirkland, of Elm Grove, will (says the Taieri Advocate) be one of the heaviest losers by the flood, and his place presents a scene of disaster that must cause a feeling of regret to rise in those who remember the splendid fields of oats and wheat now completely ruined by the flood. Near the homestead a large field of beans has been spoilt, and the fields of wheat and oats have been rendered worthless. A large amount of water still remains in the fields, and the farm cannot yet be reached on foot. There is scarcely any feed left for the live stock, and Mr Kirkland has already commenced to cart feed to the farm. It will be some considerable time before the farm will provide feed for the stock, and the quantity of milk given by the milking cows has already been greatly decreased. Mr Kirkland estimates his loss at LISOO. As showing the manner in which the land is being raised by the deposit of silt, it may be mentioned that Mr Kirkland is about erecting a third fence on portion of his property. At Timaru at the end of last week the dry winds having made crops fit for carting after the rains, the farmers pushed work ahead and, the demand for men was in excess of the supply. Two shillings and 2s 6d an hour was paid in many cases, and even 4s has been offered for additional men, who could not be had. The rush for labour was only for a few days. A Nelson telegram states that the heavy rain and wind experienced during the last few days have done a large amount of injury to the hops and crops. Beautiful weather now prevails. The Wairuna correspondent of the Clutha Leader reports that the crops in the district are looking well. In some few cases the white crops got a bit of a twist by the late storms, but it is surprising how little damage has been done. Move damage was done in the gardens than in the open fields. In the Ashburton district the bulk of the grain is now safely secured, and the damage is found not to be nearly so great as was feared. With reference to the condition of wheat in South Canterbury, we have been informed by Messrs Wright, Stephenson, and Co. that they have private advices from one of their constituents there (Mr Douglas, Waihao Downs) that his wheat is being stacked in splendid condition, care being taken to separate any sheaves in damp gullies behind the sun. The Riversdale correspondent of the Southland Times writes : — " Harvesting is becoming general now in this district, though the heavy rains of late delayed matters a littlp. Undoubtedly the best crop of wheat in the district is that of Mr Wilson Hall, consisting of about 500 acres on his farm, situated on the banks of theMataura. The crop is worth seeing, the stalks being of unusual length and the ears well filled ; the yield should be between 60 and 70 bushels. Near at hand the N.Z. Agricultural Company have a splendid field of oats, which should yield at least 60 bushels to the acre. Here also the stalks are very long and close. Mr Hall, who is cutting the company's crop as well as his own, has 20 reapeis at work, representing the following makers — viz., Buckeye, M'Cormickj'Deering, Wood.and Brantford. In the wheat paddock a trial of the Buckeye machine took place a few days ago, the representatives of the firm being in attendance, and those present expressed themselves well pleased with the result. At Round Hill, about two and a-half miles from Riversdale, a considerable area is under crop. The land is part of the N.Z. A. Company's estate, and is leased for cropping. Here the crops are looking well, but will not be ready for cutting for about three weeks."

Of the South Canterbury wheat crop the Waimate Times says: — "According to the Christchurch Press, the farmers in South Canterbury are in a very bad way. It says that the reports from here are simply heartbreaking, and that the wheat crop in the district is practically ruined. Our readers know that the report is very much overdrawn, but those at a distance will not be in a position to so readily learn the truth of the matter, and such a report is calculated to do serious injury to

the farmers. In common with other districts South Canterbury suffered considerably by the wet weather of about a week ago, but the extent of the injury to crops is not what is represented by the Press. Before the weather cleared, in some instances the wheat commenced to sprout, but not to an injurious extent, and that only in certain localities where the conditions were against its drying rapidly, or where the stooks stood on very low-lying lands. A drying wind followed the rain, and where the grain was in stook it was given every attention so as to prevent sprouting. Then at the time of the rain a considerable acreage was still uncut, which, with the fine weather that has continued since then, is being harvested in good condition. The Press in its report states that they had been shown samples with sprouts an inch long. No doubt the sample referred to was an exception, and was probably obtained from stooks built under a dense 12ft gor?e fence, where it was an impossibility for the grain to dry quick enough uzider the circumstances. Unfortunately these high gorse fences are only too numerous on many lauds, and what has been lost by neglect in keeping them within reasonable •gnmth would perhaps have paid for cutting them several times over."

In the Warepa district most of the crop is heavy and will yield well. The grass-threshing in just about finished, and the seed in most casts is in good condition. A very low figure is expected for it. That the floods have done a very serious amount of damage to the crops is evidenced by a sample of wheat brought to us (Oamaru Mail) from Toko-Rahi. This is dreadfully sprung, the ears being matted together with an inextricable mass of roots, while from some of the pickles there are shoots three or four inches in length. The handful of ears were taken from the centre of a sheaf in the middle of a stook, and as they come from off low-lying land on which the water stood for some time, they of course afford an extreme example of the effects of the floods. To the lay mind it is imijossible to conceive of tiny purpose to which grain in such a state can be ajjplied, unless it be the feeding of pigs for bacon-making. In that way the grower might avoid total loss. To,* the sake of the district and town we hope that there is very little grainiin such a pitiable condition as the sample brought u^ to day from Tokj-Rahi

The North Otago Times says (—"Afresh start was made with stacking throughout the district on Saturday, and farmers are hurrying this important part of farm work on with all the expedition possible. A visitor informs us that the crops in the Hakateramea have nottsuffered much damage from the rains (although ■ the valley had its full share), unless' where the

stooks were in the beds of streams or in water-

UUUIHUS. The Woodlands correspondent of the South land Times writes -.— " Harvest preparations are everywhere apparent ; for some time back even the trains passing through with their freights of brilliantly painted binders show that their agents have an eye to business, and can tell where their harvest is to be. At present the country is looking its best, and already a lot of crop is in stook, despite the recent unsettled weather."

The Timaru Herald writes :— " Stacking, and on some farms, threshing, are going on as speedily as possible ; and it is said that taken all round the damage to the grain will not be nearly so serious as was at first anticipated."

Monday's Lyttelton Times say? :— " Judging by several samples of wheat which were exhibited in town on Saturday, the farmers who are adopting the hazardous practice of threshing from the stook are likely to be greater sufferers than usual this season. Owing to recent moist weather the corn neither threshes freely nor does it make a sufficiently good sample to tempt buyers, as it has n greasy and cold feeling when rubbed, which makes millers fight shy of it. The same corn, if stacked for six weeks or two months, would, in experts' opinion, be as prime wheat as could be seen, as it would have an opportunity to 'sweat.' In its present condition, however, it is comparatively useless for the manufacture of flour."

The Redcliff correspondent of the Waimate Times says: — "In this district farmers are straining every nerve to stack what is fit, but the ground is so soft that drays can hardly get about. The owners of land along the bank of the Waitaki have nearly all lost less or more stock, and there were narrow escapes of people losing their lives while trying to save their sheep and cattle. One case is worth relating— namely, that of Mrs Wall, whose husband was from home, and who observed a mob of her sheep on a small island in the Waitaki. With true Highland courage she mounted a horse, and swam and floundered through the floating debvis on to the island, followed by the faithful collie, and with great difficulty forced the sheep to swim back on to the mainland, while the relentless river kept rising higher and higher, and the island growing less and less. In all probability the lady would now have been numbered with the missing were it not that she was riding a strong upstanding horse, which her husband was breaking in for Waikakahi." The correspondent says Mr Fletcher, the contractor for the irrigation works, will probably be ruined if he has to repair the damages caused to the head works. The terms of the contract were that Mr Fletcher was to

keep the work in good repair for three months, and two months have already passed. The county council should, the correspondent thinks, assist in a work of this kind, caused by an event over which Mr Fletcher could have no control.

Gisborne, February 20,

Heavy gales have been experienced for the last 24 hours, and rain is coming down in torrents. The rivers are in high flood, and are still rapidly rising. At Tologa Bay Tritmer's woolshed was washed away, as was the yacht Arelf from the Gisborne River.