DUNTROON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2397, 8 February 1900, Page 38

DUNTROON.

February 4. — The weather during the past week has on the whole been very favourable fo- the crops. Tuesday and Wednesday (Jan-ixai-y 30 and 31) were very warm, tempered on Wednesday by a little breeze. On Thursday, February 1, the morning was overcast, and in the afternoon some heavy ram fell, putting a, stop to nearly all outdoor work. Later in the evening some heavy claps of thunder and a light hail shower finished up the ram, and the weather changed, being succeeded by a frosty night, with jne weather for the rest of the week

The Crops.— The crops between Oamaru and Waikouaiti are very variable. At "Waikouaiti a. thin, poor crop is the exception, and they are all fair right through to Palmerston. Once leaving Palmerston a great difference is noticeable. All up past Hampden the crops are mostly thin, although turnips look well, an&grass is very good. In fact, the cattle are rollihc; fat, and the feed is very good indeed. It is not, however, until the Maheno plain bursts on, the view that real good crops are seen — then, the change in the soil becomes at once apparent. Not only so, but the stage of ripeness is so much advanced. Alf along the Waikouaiti, Palmerston, and Hampden districts, right through to Maheno the crops are quite green. After passing through Maheno the golden colour becomes at once apparent, although no acreage worth speaking of is cvt — only a paddock here and there for chaff. Once through Oamaru, all that is changed. Good heavy crops, binders at work, and stooks up are a common sight, although oi course not much of it is fit for the leaper. Turning up the branch line, along the plains, crop becomes the first consideration. Before that, crop is only an item in farming, dairying being the principal mainstay of the farmer. Up here the dairy plays second fiddle, and crop is everywhere in evidence. Acres of it, each side of the line and as far as the eye <ja 1 reach is rapidly ripening, a lot of it being in tLe &took. Indeed, one farmer had a crop oZ caily oats stacked, and the mill was busily hi" mining away alongside of a big heap of giain bags. On the Maerewhenua settlement nearly every binder is pegging away from early more to dewy eve, and the stooks grow in long rows around the paddocks as if by magic. Oats, wheat, and barley meet the eye at every turn, and dozens of binders are clicking away at it. Some of the crops are very heavy, and will thresh out well. Owing to the absence of timber, the everlasting sparrow has not had the same chance here as farther south. There crops are prematurely aged by the birds, here a few odd heads are picked out by them, and little lost. Rabbits, too, are not the bother here that they are down your way, only a few odd ones being visible. Haves are more plentiful, but not numerous enough to do much damage, although across the other side of the "Waitaki they are as bad as rabbits. Some few of the wheat paddocks are touched by the Hessian fly, but not badly. Root crops and grasses are very good, too, on the whole, and I should fancy that, in a moderately showery, season, this place must be a perfect paradise for farmers. I have seen one or two paddocks of lucerne, good heavy crops, and some of the red clover up here would make the southern cows green with envy. I have not had time yet to look around much, ho must try to let your readers know what manno;: of place this is next week. In the meantime I must close, but one thing, Mr Editor, I neither see nor hear of — that is, any attempt to raise help for the. patriotic fund up this way. I think if you jog the editor of the Daily Times — ■ I &cc that it has m.'uy readers vy> here — and he gives them a good bioad hint, probably something may be done yet. I really think that there arc a good few shillings up here which, would help your " more horses " fund along.