CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL.

Otago Witness, Issue 2085, 8 February 1894, Page 23

CANTERBURY AGRICULTURAL.

(Fhom Oob Own Correspondent.) Christchurch, February 7.

Friday's rain and Saturday's wind did far less damage to the crops than was feared. Most of the corn in North Canterbury was in stook, and the high wind quickly dried it, so that carting was resumed on Saturday where the wind was not too high. In later parts of the Ashburton district and South Canterbury the corn in stook was not much harmed, but the standing corn was badly beaten down by the rain and then twisted, and the grain threshed out by the wind, so that in exposed localities there was considerable loss. The weather since Saturday has been all that could be desired, and there being plenty labour available great progress has been made with the harvest. A good many farmers on the Plains are threshing from the stook, but generally farmers are using very despatch in getting their corn stacked out of harm's way. Oats are so far threshing well, but wheat is disappointing in both yield and condition. Most of the barley in North Canterbury is spoiled. The live stock markets this week have been poorly attended. Cattle, particularly stores, and good young store sheep are firm, but fat sheep and lambs are 6d to Is lower, the greatest fall being in second rate descriptions.