HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14886, 28 January 1914, Page 12

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

ASHBURTON DISTRICT. During no season since the very early days of farming in the Ashburton district 'have the prospects of the farmer looked brighter or more promising than they do at* present, nor have the results of the vast improvements in the all-round methods of farming been more apparent. The land is better tilled in every way, and the great bulk of it was never in better heart, and rear after year it is being made to yield more satisfactory and profitable returns. The weather just following on the ingathering of the grain harvest ol 1912-13 was specially favourable ror a continuation of all outdoor farming operations, and farmers took full advantage of every opportunity to thoroughly well prepare the land for the following season's crops, with the reMilt that most of the seed was sown when tbe land was in the best of condition, and the crops came away well. Aftor tlio check caused by tho dry weather in tho spring the rains in 'November- saved tbo situation, and it was not many weeks before there was every appearance that the yield for the present season would be at least equal, to. if it did not considerably exceed, that of any previous season. In large numbers of instances both wheat and oats becamo unusually heavily headed, and ali that was wanted was favourable weather to properly mature and ripen the grain. The excessive rains in December caused rust to mako its appearance in some districts, and one unusually heavy downpour, with a boisterous wind, badly laid and twisted about some of the particularly heavy crops, more especially those growing on the heavier and more swampy lands. Still, the damage done was, after all, not very serious. Harvesting operations are now pretty general in maap- parts of the district, and in largo numbers of instances the yield per acre is going to roach, if it does not exceed, that of any previous year. There is but very little wheat grown all along tho foothills from Mont.ilto to Mount Hutt, but there are many heavy crops of oats to be seen all through the Mavfield, Mount Somers. Stifveley and Alford Forest districts. Taking the wide area of splendid wheat-growing land all through Methven, Springfield and across through Cairnbrae and Lyndhurst. to Highbank through Corwar, Barrhill, Holmslea! and Rakaia, and down through Acton and Done, many splendid wheat crops are to be seen, quite a number of which should yield all 40 to 45 bushels and I3L t om ,° • ca *** ap to eve " °* i»g*i «s oO bushels per acre. A number of the T rS?°t? S £°, U seen P r «mise. yields up to CO bushels per acre Lower Winchmore districts are in most cases unusually C ood, as also are they ♦£ r ° Ug £ c Forks and ehio r J»V he Lower Hinds ' L ™- districts thJlT™' and L °n*beach ♦£» rt Cr °P? wero never better than they are this season, while the famous wheat-growing district of Wak a - Preß ?? t3 the same a "«™g appearT/f grain^^ I ' ll be ver, little stS fclL 8 •" to be * se en, and what has D U T*»£ l ?P n . to Btack ** far *» beS put together m the best of conditio?