THE CROPS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume V, Issue 1451, 9 February 1885, Page 2

THE CROPS.

Winchmore, Dromore, and Lauriston.

That part of the Upper Ashburton Read Board lying north of he Ashburton river presents a great variety of soils, and consequently a great variety of crops Near the river the land is of very high character, and has long been famed for luxuriant grass and abundant crops of cereals Further removed from the river the soil is lighter, but still, particularly with a humid season, it has yielded excellent re turns of grass, roots, and grain. Leaving Ashburton by the Winchmore road Mr Donald Williamson’s “ homestead ” farm is the first holding of any magnitude to attract attention. This year Mr Williamson has about 80 acres sown with wheat, and while bearing in mind the many onntiful crops we have seen harvested from this magnificent estate, we think this year will be it the record. It cannot go leas that 50 bushels to the acre. Forty acres of oa f s on the same estate will yield at least 70 bushels to the acre. Mr Harrison’s crops adjoining look remarkably well, but owing to the absence of the proprietor we have been unable to obtain particulars of the acreage, which, however, is small. Mr Reatell’s small holding is chiefi) devoted to grazing dairy stock, but room has been found for a small paddock of oats, which will give quite a phenomenal yield—we should estimate fully 90 bushels to the acre Messrs Digby Bros have about 100 acres of wheat and a small patch of oats. Both cereals will reach 50 bushels to the acre. Mr Robert Miller appears Independent of the weather and every other element that affects the crops of other farmers — his are alwavs a success. This year he has about 100 acres each in wheat and oats, both of exceptional promise, and a crop of barley—a cereal the yield of which is always difficult to estimate—is certainly the best in the district. The Winchmore Estate—Mr Hart’s—owes its favorable reputation more to the energetic and judicious management of Mr Matthew Stitt than •o any particular merit of its own, but still it comprises much really first-class land, and the lighter portions have had the advantage of intelligent culture. This year the crops consist of about 1,100 acres of wheat, 300 of oats, and 1.000 of turnips. The wheat will run 35 bushels to the acre, the oats 40, and the turnips are a good crop. Messrs Pocock Bros, have 1,300 acres in wheat, and 200 each in oats and barley, all g.iod crops. Messrs Capon Bros, have about 250 acres in wheat, which the owners expect to yield 30 bushels to the acre. Their oats, about 200 acres, are also a very fair crop, but a small plot of barley is not so promising. Mr James Lemon has a fair crop of oats. Mr Houston has about 450 acres in wheat which will yield fully 20 bushels to the acre, and the oats and barley on the same farm are average crops. Mr Daniel Brick has 200 acres in wheat, 200 in oats, and 100 in barley, which should yield about 30, 35, and 25 bushels per acre respectively. Mr O’Grady has something over

200 acres in wheat and 30 acres in oats. The former crop will equal and the latter considerably exceed the average for the

district. There are 540 acres of wheat and 350 acres of oats growing on the farm recently occupied by Mr J. T. Brown. The wheat is a comparatively poor crop, but the oats are very good, and about 4,000 bushels of rye grass seed have been secured this year from the farm., Mr Wilkinson has good crops of both wheat and oats. Mr Nicholas Welsh has for a time turned his attention to sheep, and has found it, we understand, a more profitable venture than the production of grain, Messrs Angus and R. McDonald have nice crops and Mr Copeland has a fair one of wheat—about 400 acres—which should nearly

reach 30 bushels to the acre. Mr Collins has 200 acres of wheat looking very well, and Mr Mangham’a crops—nearly

500 acres of wheat and 100 acres of oats —are above the average. -Mr Sawle'a farm, rear Ashburton, is growing fair crops of wheat and oats. Mr Kemp’s 250 acres of wheat should run about 15 bushels to the acre, and double that acreage in oats will yield much better. Some of Mr R Campbell’s crop was self sown, merely ploughed in after last year’s disastrous hailstorm, and consequently the yield, although probably remunerative, will not be large. Mr McDowall followed the same system of agriculture with part of his wheat, ut the 1,000

acres he has promise fully 15 bushels to the acre. Mr Ledgerwood has a very fair

crop of wheat and the same of oats. Our estimates for this‘division last year were—ll,2oo acres wheat, 17 bushels per acre, 190,100 bushels ; 1,000 acres oats, 29 bushe’s per acre, 46,400 bushels ; 210 ores barley, 27 bushels pet acre, 5,670 bushels. This year’s crops wa do not consider quite so good generally, but no portion of the district has suffered as last year from hail, and without further discussing the details we may give the following as our estimate, procured from the information we h ive collected : acres wheat, 20 bushels per acre, 180,000 bushels ; 4,000 acres oats, 30 bushels per acre, 120,000 bushels ; 600 acres barley, 17 bushels per acre, 10,200 bushels.