THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS,

Otago Witness, Issue 2292, 3 February 1898, Page 25

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS,

The crops in the" Ryal Bush district, of Southland, compare well with those of former yesrs, as also do those at Oreti Flat.

Our Riversdale correspondent writes on the lsb : " The crops in this district are going to be much later than usual, owing to the long continuance of cold, wet weather. The straw is short, and the yield below the average. I should say from 35 bushels downwards is about the yield, but it may improve somewhat before be ; ng cut."

Our Miiton correspondent writes on the 2nd : "The crops in the Tokomairiro district are heavier than usual, especially wheat, which covers a couch greater area than previous years. Instead of a few phenomenally heavy yields and the rest miserably ' tailing eff,' there will be a uniformly successful harvest, say 60 bushels for most of the wheat ; and straw will be more plentiful than ever. The wheat is just turning, and oats are properly filled out. The Hessian fly has appeared in numerous crops all over the plain, but ' ia doiug little damage. Mora injury is occasioned by a small grub at the root, which seems to thrive when the crop is weakeeed by drought or wind."

Our Oanaaru correspondent writes oa the 2nd : «• Grain crops af all kinds are very unsatisfactory. On some of the best l*nd in this district the crops are too short to cut. Wheat; will not average over 15 bushels, oat« slightly undsr tb?»t. Tnm»ps are looking fairly well, and, considering the weather, potatoes are fairly good. The Hsssian fly has made its appearance here, but no serious damage has bten done."

Oar Gore correspondent writes on the 2nd : " In thi« district it is very hard, on account of oke different nature of the soils, to state tha prospects of the harvest as ft whole. In sonia parts of the district in the immediate vicinity of Gors they are doiog well ; in others they are almobt a failure. On some crops the weather has been beneficial ; on others it has been jusfc the opposite. Oa the whole I think lam rigab in saving tte crops will not be up to previous yo^rs." The showia of Sunday in Canterbury were nob general, and rain is much wanted on the plains to bring on the root crops. Harvesting ia well advanced in North Canterbury. Ths harvest averages are considered by the local papers to have bpen placed rather nnder tho probable lesulfc. Tno orchards present a sowy aspect, Vhf, Isufe of mofsiiito having checked tho growth of th<* t»«8 and the high winds blown quantifies of fruife cff. In tha Tsusaru district niopt; oi the crops are now down, ali r.h« oats, being cufc and most of rhe wheat. The Caesfe samples, says the Timaru Herald, come from the Seado.vu district.

We (Moani Ida Chronicle) ha^re been shown a sample each of o»fc3 and wfce&i grown by Me K. Uletirt at Maruira&to. Considfcnrig the season the heads o? both appear -well developed, and tha straw of fuily medium length. If the crop is equal to ihe sample then the grower is to be congratulated. Iv the drier parts of ihe plains, of couise, the crops are doomed to be poor, though in several instances farmers in the localities reierrtd to Lave informed us thai their crops are lookiocf somewhat; better thaa tu*y anticipated. About Diumnaood (says tha Western Star) the crops are shorter aud lighter than they have been for many sc^hove, and lint ia suffering from some inexplicable cause. Tha sye»i:*t>9 is very fair, and less is being kepb for seed. Mstuy farmer are still holding last season's oat} ia the fxyecfci^ioa of a substantial rise. Ii is atafced (says the Ti?naru Herald) tbat; e&taipjllara have b^n very destructive among eoaie barley crops ia Lbe Etksmere district Small birds have nob betn destructive ftmoag the cftiezpiil&re ; on the contrary they have b?ea helping them. Tb.3 weather in Dunedin became almost wintry on ihe lsb, and the strong S.W. gaie which prevailed throughout the day haa played cad h&voc with the fruit crop. Some cf the erofS on the Taieri are likbly to have suffered. Some cf the g.ists of winds were almost o£ hurricane force, aa mfty ba judged from ihe fact that near the Milburn Cemenb Company's works ahorse attached to a- dray containing one ton of cement was blown into the water. In' the tvfuing tha rain showers *?ere very Luavy. Wellington, February 1. A violent hla-t csme up suddenly from the south withoufe any warning thiß afternoon, bringing showers of dust and sa.ud, which filled the streets as with a fog and drove everyoue to shelter. The barometer fell 10 points in fire minutes. Foot-passengeis had some narrow escapes from the flying debns, and the roof was torn clean eff a 'bus in Lauibton quay. The ship Canterbury, which was just leaving the harbour, had her saiU considerably damaged before the crew could tako them in. The storm fortunately only lasted a few minutes, and on any other occasion but this phenomenal summer would have been followed by .heavy rain. Only a shower or two, however, fell, bufc the sky is still overcast and more niiy follow, Christchurch, February 1. Affcer a prolonged drought} rain set in early this morning throughout Canterbury, and heavy showers with sleet fell al intervals all day. Towards evening a steady downpour started, with every prospect of its conlijiuing. There was a perfect gale in the afternoon, doing & great deal of damage to orchards.

The Maoris at Parihaka are leaving fo» further down the coast, to harvest the crops o^. the X'tatives who Are iv gaol for trespass.