AUSTRALIAN HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 1166, 13 November 1871, Page 3

AUSTRALIAN HARVEST PROSPECTS.

The following is from the Australasian of 'Nov. 4 : — The weather remains as hitherto, changeable to a degre, a hot wind one day and a chilly wind the next. For several days in succession morning has been ushered in by showers which have caused vegetation, espe•eially pasturage, to grow with unexampled celerity. Feed is therefore abundant, but in many localities the take-all has spi-ead rapidly amongst the oat crops, whilst in others the crops generally are reported to be recovering from the damage inilicted by spring frosts. At Bellarine the take-all has appeared amongst the oats, and some of the seed crops, carrots especially are not doing well — the roots are rotting in the ground. At Coleraine it is said, •" the crops still continue to look pretty fair. There will, from present appearances, be a good average yield, but nothing extraordinary. The fine weather that prevailed lately, followed by the gentle ram, gave them every chance of strengthening, and some patches are already in ear, and showing well." The Stockyard-hill correspondent of our Beaufort contemporary states that fears of an over-abundant harvest about Stockyard-hill ;and Lake Goldsmith are gradually evaporating as the season advances. Take-all has in too many instances put in a strong claim for its full share, especially where the crop is the third time for oats in succession. " Th,e wheat and barley about Coghilljjs Creek, Glendarucl, and Ascott," writes the Star's correspondent, "seem in general promising, but the oats are decidedly retrograding. The sorrel in almost every paddock is above the crops, and far more abundant this season than has been known for the hist 14 years. The take-all or grub is now to be noticed amongst the oats." Around Smeaton the crops are recovering from the frosts, and wheat will shortly be in ear. Sorrel, however, predominates, as it •always does in a wet, cold spring, as such weather keeps the crops backward, and allows the more hardy sorrel to get ahead. On the new land about Glendower the crops promise rfar better. At Guilf ord the frost of the 25th injured the vines and the fruit crop greatly. In the Bendigo district the crops which looked so well a few weeks ago have suffered greatly from the excessive heats and the frost 3 by which they were followed. Ruin appears to have been wanted a few days ago, and it is to be hoped that by this time the crops have received a share of the fall that has been so generally diffused. At Carisbrook mowing has been commenced, but the crops are light, and rain is much needed to bring the later -sown crops to perfection. From Newbridge come reports of damage to green crops from the excessively hot weather. Unless rain fell quickly the harvest would be light, as excepting very early sown wheats, the crops are said to barely cover the ground. The hay crop is not expected to average a ton to the acre, but a rainfall would, even at the date of writing (26th ult.), cause a decided change, and give fair crops instead of bad ones. Upon the whole, it will be seen our harvest prospects are not nearly as bright as they were ; few districts have much to boast of. The Adelaide Observer of Oct. 28 reports: — Concerning the prospects for next harvest we have little news to communicate this week. The appearance of the crops lias not materially altered, and we have heard no further complaints as to the ill effects of the red rust. That it has attacked the flag of the wheat plant in very many localities is beyond a doubt, but the ear has, so far as we can learn, escaped injury up till this time. Of course the plant has scarcely reached the critical stage as yet, and its progress during the next two or three weeks will bo watched with intense anxiety. We hear from some of the northern districts that the crops look thin and comparatively unpromising, but the apprehension of disease will probably account, at all events to some extent, for the gloomy reports. The showers that have fallen within the past few days, and which have been especially heavy in the south, are likely to be productive of good results. The state of the crops in South Australia is various. The Mount Gambler Standard of the 27th ult. has the following, viz, : — " Gawler Plains — Some of the rusted crops are being cut for hay. Expected crops are much below the average. Port Gawler district — By no means promising. Broughton and Gulnare Areas — Wheat out in ear, straw light, but prospects excellent. Port Lincoln — Red rust attacked crops. Echunga — Grain fields promising. Aldinga — Looking first-rate after the ranis. Port Wakefield — Light, but otherwise healthy. Meadows — Crops look well, but are backward. Chinkford — Promising. Alma — Dry scorching winds have made sad havoc. Hay, light yield. Southern Plains — About two-ttiirds of an average crop." ' f '■■• The weather in New. South Wales has been very much thfeißame as in Victoria ; heat, ram; I snow, and liail have been experienced an various localities. The crops are favourably spoken of in the majority of cases, but rust is sfljd-to^ have appeared in others. The Richmond Express of the 11th ult .speaks of cold piercing winds, and occasional frosts, as recurring in turn, and mocking the desire for rain, which had become badly needed. At

Maitland the weather had been unusually changeable, " one day the temperature is up to summer heat, and the next as cold as in the depth of winter." Rain, however, had fallen through the entire valley of the Patterson, to the benefit of the crops. Rust had been reported, but the reports had not been I confirmed. From Laguna, however, the Singleton Times has received unwelcome confirmation of a visitation of rust ; some of the crops are as red as a soldier's coat." The wheat on the lower Wollombi is still free, but it has not arrived at the stage at which rust attacks the plant. Rains have since been very generally experienced, and it is expected that the more distant localities have also received their share. The balance of reports on the condition of the crops must be regarded as favourable. In Queensland the wheat crop, which is ripening, is likely to be light. In some districts the crop has been ploughed do%vn ; in others cattle has been turned in. A change of seed is said to be required, and more especially varieties that are better adapted to a warm climate than the white Lammas from humid Scotland. Cannot the agricultural societies import some of the best wheats of South Australia ; a small quantity only would be needed by each farmer for a start. In Victoria farmers are constantly procuring from abroad small parcels of seed, of good varieties, whose produce, carefully husbanded and sown again, soon puts them in possession of seed enough for the whole of their crop.