HARVEST PROSPECTS IN NORTH OTAGO.

Otago Witness, Issue 3019, 24 January 1912, Page 17

HARVEST PROSPECTS IN NORTH OTAGO.

(Fro* Our Special Correspondent.)

OAMARU, January 20,

With the advent of warm weather, though it has been broken by occasional rains, the cereal crops have made considerable progress towards maturity, and harvest time is now approaching. Some cut ting lias already been done, and more will be done during the ensuing week. But the crops being dealt with thus early are either Algerian or dun oats that were sown in the autumn for feeding off' by stock . or oats cut in a semi-green state for chaffing, and. it will bo some time before the harvest will bo in full swing. Still, some .holds of wheat and oats arc beginning to change colour, and should bright, warm weather bo experienced, harvesting of the mam crops may be expected to commence in a fortnight, and by the middle of lebruary operations will bo pretty general. Inc weather of late has been favourable for the development of the grain, and genciaUi tiic ears are filling well. The only thing that has militated against exceptionally heavy yields has boon the occurrence ot rust and smut, induced by the unusual y cold and wet weather experienced m December. Fortunatelv, however, the area affected is not great, and a check has been given to the spread of the pests by the warmer weather and the light winds. Ol course, crops thus affected cannot be expected to yield well, and the average returns of oats in particular must bo prejudiced to some extent. In the Awamoko district, too, the hailstorm of the early part of December seriously affected the output of grain in that part of the country, some paddocks of oats being completely ruined, and other fields of grain more or less injured. But even with these things to discount prospects to some extent, the harvest, if all goes well for a month, Willi -be tho host that has boon soon in North Otago for many years, and the product ion the greatest that has been recoided for even a longer period. This increased outnut will be tho joint result of exceptionally good yields ever a considerably extended area.

In the absence of official statistics it is impossible to state definitely what the aiea under cereals this year really is, and an estimate can only be formed by comparing the extent of land under crop with what has been more or lerss accurately ascertained in former years through the medium of departmental statistics, banners with whom I have discu.issed the question of areas under crop are in general agreement that the extent of land under wheat is certainly .as large a,s that sown with this cereal last season, while some have gone so far as to say that there has been an increase on last year’s sowing. Accepting these statements as fairly indicating the position, one mav fairly estimate the area under wheat at between 32,000 acres and 35,000 acies, with the present assurance that the whole area will bo cut for grain. As to the prospective average yield per acre one has, in giving an estimate, to take the risk of present anticipations being discounted by adverse conditions arising between now and harvest. On present appearances, however, I have no hesitation in hazarding the opinion that, with favourable conditions from now onwards, the yield of wheat in the Waitaki County will average from 38 to 40 bushels per acre, with a possibility of the higher figure being exceeded. This means that, unless something untoward should arise to cause the present fair -promise to fall short of realisation, the wheatproduction of the country should be irom 1,300,000 to 1,400.000 bushels. As to oats, the area sown is variously computed at from 12,000 to 15,000 acres. But, of course, the area to be threshed for gram w/ill ho reduced by so much as is utilised for chaff, and one cannot venture upon an estimate of the total output of grain. With respect to the average yield per acre opinions vary, flume who are entitled to speak upon the subject say that it is possible iliat 50 bushels an acre may be obtained. But I am disposed to reduce that estimate by 10 per cent, and give 45 bushels an aero as a reasonable anticipation, with the reservation that present appearances are liable to bo changed by adverse circumstances. Barley is so little grown in the country (hat one need not take it into consideration.

| The question that is now most agitating .tK-' minds of farmers is that of the requisite labour to gather the harvest. There are very few men available here, and with i so big' an area to handle an unusually large number of hands will be required, i especially should hot weather bring the grain to ripeness simultaneously all over i the district. At an informal mooting of farmers it was decided to ask the Afinistor I of Public Works and Agriculture to have ; co-operative works in the 'South Island suspe ruled for a time in order to allow tilio labourers to become available for harvesting operations. A doubt has, however, been raised as to Ministers complying with such a general and wholesale stoppage of , public works. It is urged that, wore it rf'vivi effect to. a good deal of individual hardship might be inflicted, and one farmer I with whom I discussed the question made i the suggestion that, every farmer should i send to some central authority a statement | of the number of men he would require I and details as to remuneration and possible 'length of employment. Men might then ; be selected, and with cheapened railway fares and guaranteed employment liarvostI ing. and an assurance of openings being 1 kept for a return to the public works when harvest was completed, no difficulty should be experienced in getting sufficient labour ; to safely harvest the grain. It seems i clear that something will have to be done, I and that without any delay, to make sure ! of securing the bountiful harvest, j With respect to potatoes, the only thing I that can be definitelv stated is that the ; area is the largest that has been known I for many years, even if it does not con- ■ aritute a record. Some of the planting;! ; have not done so well as could have been ; desired but, taken in the aggregate, the ! yields promise to be good. The results ob- | tained from the early varieties have been i very satisfactory. Averages of from three I to four tons to the acre have boon pretty I general; but in some instances tb© tallies have been higher, as much as six tons per acre having been reached. These are reckoned good returns for early digging, and the prices that have been obta : ned have given growers a good profit. So far the late potatoes are looking well, except in a few damp places, where wire worms have done some damage. A little blight baa also been seen on badly-drained land,

but as yet there is nothing to cause any uneasiness.

Turnips, mangolds, rape, and fodder crops generally-have done well, and the results promise to be the best known for many years. If the weather proves favourable, the production of -grass and clover seeds will be the biggest obtained in North Otago for a great many years. Altogether the season has been the best that North Otago farmers have enjoyed for a long time. But the ultimate result must uepend largely upon the weather experienced for the next few weeks. Everyone bo rejoiced if a period of unbroken lino n Gather were to succeed the frequent lecunenco of rains. Thi s week has seen lam on two or three davs, and to-day there has been a shower of hail, happily ief and light. No damage has been done I,?, j 3l ? s :ncnvn : but those constant , , In weather make farmers appicncnsno that, after all the golden promise may not be realised.