THE DRY SEASON.

Timaru Herald, Volume XIC, Issue 13463, 9 December 1907, Page 4

THE DRY SEASON.

Jr is, perhaps, a. trifle early yet to become seriously alanned about anothvr (bought in Canterbuiy; but the telegram wc publish this morning from Christehurch indicates that (he agricultural and pastoral uutlook over the northern part of tbe province is causing a great deal of uneasiness. Tho weather in September and October wui3 so varied and the temperature ' so low. that there was poor growth in pastures, and crops. Last month, however, there was- an, all-round improvement, and 1 while the South Inland was fortunate in getting just the amount of rain that was needed, some pariis of the North Wand really Buffered from an excess of nioUiuie*

With the break up of the winter and early autumn drought, crops and pastures benefited greatly, and 'in some favoured parts of South Canterbury, the change! for the better was very marked. .Since then, severe wind's and patching heat ha\;e been the ruk*. and pastures and crops, over » very large area, have suffered very much. However, there is at

present no occasion to give way to despair. In the South Island 1 the lambing has been wonderfully good, and feed prospects are still quite bright, so that now the export season is just upon us, the shipments for this month and January should ba quite equal to if no t better than those of former years. This anticipation should be a source of satisfaction to .<.-heep-groweit?. who are no doubt in anything but a pleased frame of mind at the reception (heir wool is nvc'thig at the sales and the reports of falling prices in the world's markets. Important as this industry is, however, to a huge section, it is the nines of the people who are really interested in the outlook as regards grain. New Zealand is now at the end of a season that has seen wheat reach a phenomenal price. and though prices within the last few weeks have gone back a good deal, time must bejeft to solve the question of a dear or cheap -loaf. At this stage of the reason no reliable statistics bearing on crop prospects are avaflaVe; but we are assuied that so far but little harm has bt*.n done by dry weather. Rain of course would be welcome, the sooner the better for all concerned; if its advent is long . postponed the outlook will become serious.