HARVEST NOTES.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1040, 3 January 1884, Page 2

HARVEST NOTES.

[By oub Travelling Reporter.]

In years past one of the greatest drawbacks to the grain growers on the plains between the Rakaia and Rangitata has been a prevalence of strong nor’-west winds about this period of the season, and those who have lived in the county any length of time know only too well with what terrific force these winds blow, and what serious loss the. farmer has from time to time sustained through the corn 1 being shaken out of the husk on to the ' around. Up to the end of "January last 1 year the season of 1882-3 had been remarkable in several important particulars unusually favorable weather for the growth of all cereals, a marked absence ’ of anything like strong destructive wi ds, i and the almost unparalleled prospects of a bountiful harvest. Though, however, the season was everything that could be desired up~ to the time a consideraole area of the grain was cut and in the stook, the unusually wet weather experienced just in the middle of the harvest resulted in the accumulation of a large quantity of damaged grain, and consequently serious loss to the growers. The peculiarly unsettled state of the weather this season has long since become the topic of general remark and the 'subject matter of many a paragraph in our colonial journals. Seeing that it• somaterially effects the probable resources of the colony, this is nqt surprising. QnNewYear s morning a most welcome change appeared to have set in, and the sky betokened a beautifully line day. At noon, however, there was again a most disagreeable change, and on Wednesday morning records woie to hand of thunder and hail storms having occurred thiough- • out the province. Last evening again there was as cold and angry a looking sou’-west storm raging as wpuld, bo experienced ’ at any period of 1 the winter months and the appearance of the hills this morning put one more in mind of mid-winter than mid-summer- If we do not get some genuine summer weather soon the reputation of New Zealand as possessing one of the finest climates in the world will be considerably and deservedly damaged. The prospects of a fair average harvest will also be materially affected,*for if ever settled weather was needed it is just now. Throughout the county generally the crops are said to be looking well and promising a yield nearly tqual to that of last year. Speaking, however, from personal observation I do not think the average will approach that of last year. From Rakaia to Methven some of the corn fields are looking very well indeed, and present appearances of both wheat and oats indicate a very handsome return. Between Lauriston and Cairnbrae both wheat and oats on either side of the line look well. Between Cairnbrae and the flourishing township of Methven there are several largo paddocks that produced heavy yields last year, but are now presenting a very sickly appearance, and are evidences of the folly of expecting that the land can be made to grow crop after crop of grain without a period of rest or a coating of manure. Away back on the road towards Springfield, Messrs Gould, and Cameron have a few hundred acres of barley of a fairly healthy appearance, but not promising such a good yield as the.barley grown on the same estate last year, Mr D. Cameron (of dunes), has some paddocks looking remarkably well. Both wheat and oats on this farm are well in ear, and from present indications the yield should be considerably above the average. Anyone passing through the district could scarcely fail to be struck with the nu i.ber and general appearance of the large paddocks comprising the 17,000 acres of Messrs Gould and Cameron’s estate.. The. estate .presents many features worthy of notice—the neat and trim appearance of all the fence?, the luxurious feed, the quantity of well conditioned sheep, and the splendid appearance of the corn fields. On the left hand side of the road there are several large paddocks of Tuscan and velvet chaff wheat, well forward, and of remarkably even and healthy appearance, and promising a yield of fully 40 bushels to the acre. 4 paddock of Tuscan wheat close to the wool shed and a couple of paddocks of velvet chaff adjoining, are also looking very even and healthy, and showing indications of being shortly ready for the reaper. On the other side of the road and close to the homestead is a paddock of 400 acres of Tuscan .wheat that cannot to attract » special' notice.? It was pot sown' ’ till after the end of September, but is now well advanced jn ear and there is |carcely_ a paddock in the whole district to equal it; The whole 400 acres present a remarkably even and healthy appearanpe, and with anything like favorable' weather the yield should be at least 45 to 50 bushels to the acre. Further on,. towards Ashburton some of the grass paddocks are supplying to the sheep a superabundance of feed, notably two that were down in barley last

year. Further on s ill towards the tom in the road the crops on either side are light, and give evidence of the land being of a poorer nature. Taking this part of the Methven district generally, however, both wheat and oats look well and promise a fair average yield, but the return will not be equal to that of last year. If anythin,; the spring wheat through the district L showing to better advantage than the winter wheat, but at present the general prospects, barring the fickleness of the weather, are of a decidedly .encouraging nature From what can be seen by merely riding along the road both wheat and oats in the Upper Ashburton district are looking very well indeed. however, will be given in a future article.