THE CROPS.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1784, 24 January 1888, Page 4

THE CROPS.

The area of land under crop m the Ashburton County this year is largely m excess of that for several of the past seasons. About as much land has been devoted to grain growing aa m 1883, when perhaps more crop was liid down than m •ny previous year. Approximately speaking, there are about 100,000 acres m wheat and 30,000 m oats, and the yield should average for the whole county at least 23 bushels for wheat and about 27 for oats. Appended Is a brief account of the appearance and prospeots of the crops m the various districts : —

In the Upper Ashburton distriot the yields will be especially good. Heavy wheat and oat paddocks are to be seen on Mr I*aac Sargent's farm, and on Mr John Ootbatt's and Mr Pierce Weldon's. Mr Marriott has a specially good crop of wheat to show, and m fact all tha good land m tbe district carries heavy crops. The medium land has f xoelled Itself, and tome of the light soil will show a yield far beyond that which was exp?oted of It. On the good land m this district quite 40 bushel crops will be yielded In wheat, aud considerably over 20 will ba reaped from the lighter lands.

In the Tinwald-Longbeach distriot the yield will be more than an average one. Mr John Small, Mr Stalker, Mr Bishop, and m faot all the farmers down to the Riversdale Estate have laughing paddocks •—large ears, with the grain giving every promise of being full and rich m the berry,. If tbe weather holds up. The Riversdale Estate shows better tban we have ever teen it, and Its new proprietor, Mr Strange, ls to be congratulated on the wavea of abnndanos that nndulate over his fields with every breeza. Down Graham's road tbe farms all more or less show well, and those of Messrs Prebble, Shearer, Gilmour, Taylor and others, never looked better for promise of yield, la the Flemlngton district more than the nsaal amount of land has been put under crop this season, land whioh formerly was devoted to stock being now m grain, but with brighter prospects for the Oaeete Factory, under the new company it is expected that a good deal cf the land will ba put back to the old use

Up Rangitata way, Mr Morrow's crop Is ___ very good one, as is that of Mr G Burgess. The average this year will show au increase of abont three bushels to the sore.

On the lower side of Ashburton, Mr James Jamleson, Messrs Chalmers, Mr M. Millar, and others fully sustain their reputation. In the Elgin district Mr Lamb, Messrs Cochrane (Mr John Coch. rane especially), Mr Innls, Mr Thompson and others, are quite op to the beat records of their land, wbile lower down Mr Robert Leatham's " model " farm is a picture of plenty, Mr Meredith Wilson, Mr Laadley, Mr Jimes Brown, and tbe other farmers on and about tbe Fiat, are all equally well to do tbis year as regards the prospect of a good harvest. A field of Oape barley on Mr Lead ley's place has no reason to blest the sparrows — m fact, m tbe Immediate vicinity of this farm, the stmil birds appear to have increased and rauhiplied at a rate above aud beyond everywhere else. Down towards tbe besob Mr S. Wright shows out well, but Mr Oorbett's crop of grand promise has rather c' na off witbin the last fortnight. Mr T. Wilson's wheat and oats ought to be rather over the splendid average of last year,

At Pendarvea Mr Rule has reaaon to congratulate himself, while at Dorle Mr McLean and hia neighbors have no reason to growl at fortune's treatment of them this year. Along Chertsey way, and up to Dromore, all the settlers have passing good crops. Mr Dolg and Mr Sprott especially, have been blessnd m this direction, as well as Messrs Wilkin son, McDonald. Peebles and others. Towards Kyle, Mrß-uoe, Mr Buckley, Mr Lambie, Mr Frledlander, Mr Brick and others, are all well up to and somewhit over the average.

In the direction of Rakaia the promise on all the large estates is very good Indeed, and both above and below tbe railway line excellent crops will be reaped. All along the Lauriston road the crops look uncommonly well. Mr Djnt's has never looked better, and Messrs Alexander Bros, have' every reaaon to shake hands with themselves. Mr Johnston's crop la a remarkably good odo, and Mr G<ul will anything but bolie his reoord. Balmont farm will well repay Mr Henderson's tillage thin year, and right along to tbe SprioghiJd every thine; looks remarkably well. Springfield will show an abundant yield this year, and down below it towards Wiocbmore and northwards towards the line again the crops could not really be batter. Mr John Devery never was better pleased with his prospeotß, and the Mesirs Oeffdrty and McKendiy have cropes laughing to the enn, and of which any man may be proud, ■