DUNTROON.

Otago Witness, Issue 2649, 21 December 1904, Page 41

DUNTROON.

December 18. — Some good showers have fallen lately, which were badly wanted, as everything was getting dried up. The crops were beginning to turn brown wherever the i north-west winds could get at them, but the recent rains have brought them back to a nice deep green. Grass is fairly plentiful, and all stock are doing- well. Most of the wheat crop is in the shot-blade, only the very earliest sown being in eai. A good steady day's ram would be very welcome, as the crops are pretty hea-vy and will want a lot more moisture to keep them growing till they are well grown, '.this fcason has been a poor one for rape, as just about the time most of it was sown there was very little moisture in. the ground, and the rape ■did not get well away. The fly has taken a lot, some farmers being compelled to resow. A very large amount of turnips is being grown this season around this district, of which the majority will be in drills. Turnips aro also very backward. Some that were sown six or seven weeks ago are barely ready for thinning yet. By all appearances turnip thinners will be scarce at the same time. So far late potatoes ar* doing "well. The early sorts are small.

Shearing. — The. shearing season is over here now. "Wool being, a fair price thi£ season, the farmers have had. a little better time. Two years ago the wool was worth only" from 4d to 6d per lb, whils. this year farmers have received fully *wioe. as much. A lot of the lamb 3 are well forward, so I suppose they will soon be drafting the fat ones oiit..

Sports. — The Caledonian sports are to be held as usual on Box;ng Day. I hope they will have a gcod . clay this year .Surely we shall have one fine day. in. four years.'