THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 13336, 30 January 1909, Page 6

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

NORTH CANTERBURY

Yesterday, in North Canterbury, tho farmers experienced the very worst, weather of tho wholo season. Heavy fog banks which had been collecting on Thursday were succeeded by a few points of rain yesterday morning, and instead of the weather clearing up with a drying wind, a warm steamy atmosphere prevailed' throughout the <'ay, without signs of clearing. Nothing would be moro disastrous to the ripening wheat than a continuance of stich conditions, which must promote premature growth in the new crop and x>revent the maturing of the wheat in such a manner as will make it marketable and sound for milling purposes. There is a large area of the wheat crop almost quite ripe, and tlie greatest concern at the present juncture is feit for its safe housing. There havo boon previous similar catchy btasons, which have produced damp grain and caused a resort to kiln drj-iug; hut this season farmers, looking at tlie very iin.3 crop of wheat r.ow in tho fields,' hope earnestly wifi bo different. The clover end grass where croi>_ havo been recently reaped are making wonderful growth., owing to the too abundant moisture; but tlie harvest stubbles in a week or two wijl have assumed/ tho appeaxanc-o of welf-grassed meadows. A very fino crop of oats has been threshed out at Broomfield farm, Amberley, which averaged 70 bushels per acre.

A sheaf of oats from an. Omihi crop was shown in Amberley yesterday, t-lio taraw of which was over sft in length, an<L on which the caterpillar had left not a single grain. The rest of che crop, it was stated', was according to tlie sample shown.