THE CROPS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1447, 4 February 1885, Page 2

THE CROPS.

Ashburton Forks.

Following the course we adopted last year in our annual review of the crops of' the county, we shall commence with a notice of the Ashburton Forks, i.e , the part of tbe Upper Ashburton road district lying between the north and south branches of the Ashburton river. It will be recollected that early in January, 1884, this part of the county was visited by a terriffic hailstorm, which we estimated at the time, destroyed fully L 5,000 worth of grain in this division alone. Last year there were 1,300 acres in wheat, averaging 15 bushels per acre, or a gross ' yield of 19 500 bushels. The oat crops last year amounted to only 400 acres and were nearly all destroyed by hail, while the only crop of barley was completely destroyed. This year wo estimate the following yields :—l,lOO acres wheat, 27 bushels per acre, 29,700 bushels; 400 acres oats, 35 bushels per acre, 15,000 bushels, 120 acres barley, 20 bushels per acre, 2,400 bushels. —Referring to individual crops we may mention a very promising head of wheat—Bo acres—grown, by Mr Mclntyre, which will yield close upon 40 bushels to the acre. The same gentleman has a small paddock of oats, which will also yield heavily. Hr Pearce has an exceptional paddock of wheat, one of the best in the district, and should it be harvested under favorable conditions, it will give a very remarkable return. Mr John Corbitt has 50 acres of wheat and 60 acres of oats looking very well, which will exceed the average for tbe district. Mr J. Knox has 25 acres of very fine oats, and a small paddoCk of barley, which will run fully 30 bushels per acre. Mr Grealy has 80 acres of wheat on new land at Greenstreeta, which is estimated to yield nearly 40 bushels to the acre. Mr W. Green’s crops are again very promising. Mr Weldon has a magnificent crop of oats, and although he estimates the yield on a much lower scale than we should adopt, he admits that it may cun 60 bushels ; his crop of wheat is well up to the average. Mr Sutherland has a heavy crop of wheat. Mr Church, whose oats usually run into three figures, per acre has a small crop of this cereal which will amply sustain his reputation. The same grower’s wheat—about 80 acres—ia also very good. Mr Stokes has 23 acres wheat and 22 acres oats, which, especially the latter, will yield well. Mr O’Shea has a fair crop of wheat, and has out a large paddock of oats for hay. Mr Doherty has 100 acres wheat, 70 acres oats, and 95 acres barley, and his first venture in the Forks promises to be a remunerative one. Mr Sargent has a capital crop of wheat—»bout 140 acres—and a veryfine paddock of 3ats. Mr Frisby’s small crops will yield well. Potatoes, turnips and grass seed, which there are very small acreages

grown, are better orppa than last year, it will bo observed that our reports from this district are much more favorable than ve were able to present last year, and we trust it may be taken as an index to the other districts wo shall briefly review during the current month