THIS YEARS HARVEST.

Timaru Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 3570, 10 March 1886, Page 3

THIS YEARS HARVEST.

(By Tkleokaph.) •. (pboji the chbistchtieon "pbess" cobbeß- -« EOBDEST.3 y Wellington, March 8 * Mr Walter Beeves, of the Agricultural 6 Department, has compiled an interesting k report on the harvest of 1886 m Canterbury, Otago and Southland. His estimates are mainly based on the replies received to circulars sent by him to farmers and others capable of giving trustworthy information. It is estimated that there is a reduction of 10 per cent m the area of grain, and from 10 to 30 per cent m the yield compared with 1885 ; but the condition and color are greatly superior this year, though ) m somo cases the grain, particularly oats, is rather shrivelled, owing to the long if drought and heat causing premature ripening. .. The showery weather of February, however, i- seomed to have materially improved the later n crops, and a good sample is generally cxi, pected. A few very good crops of barley are c reported m favored spots ; the color and con- ,. dition both being excellent, but as a rule both the yield and the straw ore short. The f turnip crop is reported a general failure ; c from Waikari to Invercargill not a single '. good crop is reported, and the best profits are m Southland, where the yield may be a third r of the ordinary one. Potatoes are spoken a well of, though the tubers are small. The c following are the estimated yields for this if year and the decreases, as compared with last c year, both being given m bushels :—Canterbury, estimated yield, 3,611,729; barley, c 351,881 ; oats, 3,137,389. Decreasos— h Wheat, 847,950; barley, 205,562; oats, if 1,020,379. Otago and Southland, yield of 0 wheat, 1,326,372; barley, 161,787; oats, is 5,168,272 ; decrease m wheat 552,936 ; m barley, 169,231 ; m oats, 2,200,991. it