THE SOUTHERN OUTLOOK.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 172, 13 August 1909, Page 4

THE SOUTHERN OUTLOOK.

I'lic phenomenally line weather o£ the past few weeks (says the Chi'i»li!iui-ch correspondent u f the Dominion) shows no signs uf breaking, anil the province i.- enjoying a succession of bright, sunny 'lays and sharp nights, with very little wind. 'I he Wniniiite con'os'pondent of Hie 1 ress slates that residents in that district havp to look back to the 'sixties to match tln> weather experienced this winter. On« feature of the new closin» .winter, he adds, has been the inprcoc" dentedly long eontinuanee of calm weather. With the exception of one or two nights, there lias been uo wind •stronger tha„ „ gentle breeze for tlie last tJeven or eight months. One result of this unusually calm weather has been the retention of moisture in the land artertlie moderate rain of June and the occasional dampness of July, thus stopping for some weeks on level lands nziA hollows the work of tillage. But preparatory tillage has been well advanced in the line weather of late autumn and early winter. On Saturday morning a dry south-west wind, with -bright sunshine, began to dry up the moist places, and plough, harrow. di«, and drill will again be at work. As in other parts of '. antcrbiiry. fanners have all extended their area under wheat. A larger extent of land thrniishiiiit the country than ever has been sown with winter wheat, and the work has been earned out under, highly favorable circumstances. Owing to dampness a lave'' area of mul has be eld over for sprin., wheat sowing. wl,i,h has now eon," menccd.

l-.i North Caiiterburv the protracted spell 01 line ivcalhcr has been favorable to fihcep-fnrnicrs who are raisin" early lambs, but in the else of arable firm's which have bee,, .•-xtonsively planted with wheat the outlook is not so satisneton. I here is a want of mois'ture h U"' ".■ l 'l» , r sod, and rain to forward the growth ol th, crops is greatly needed. At present it K „. ratiioi- anxious lime for .some on the Plains. If rain is late in eoiuing many of the wheat crops v « the light Plains land will be rather, patchy crops. Lambing is becoming -en ernl all over the province.