THE CANTERBURY HARVEST.

Colonist, Volume LI, Issue 12470, 22 February 1909, Page 2

THE CANTERBURY HARVEST.

RECORD YIELDS. [United Press Association.] Christchurch, Feb. 20. ' Canterbury's yield of wheat this , year, is stated to be the heaviest for many years. In mid-Canterbury fifty bushels to the acre is common on medium land," and the best land shows a much higher average, over all ' between 35 and 40 bushels. Harvest operations." have often been interrupted' : by wet weather, and after cutting the ■ weather is so uncertain that not : a ' few farmers' threshed from stook' before the grain was matured. The merchants are rejecting this- wheat' as not being fit for milling or ■ export. Much of it will have- to be exposed in" bags in paddocks, as maturity 1 can bo secured by this moans. If stored in bags, in the granary without thewea-:! ther driyng it. in the paddock: it; will degenerate rapidly. . • ' '; '■■The harvest is so -abundant; that merchants and millers: are holding' offers till* market . indications become more pronounced. ... , ' ■ The weather this -week has been perfect for all kinds of harvest work, and stacking has been proceeding apace. A very large area is still in stook, and the grain is giving promise of excellent samples when threshed under proper conditions. Feed is abundant everywhere and ;root crops give pleasing prospect. Hands are scarce in some districts, and there is. plenty of work everywhere for willing- men, with some knowledge of field work. •