THE HARVEST.

Press, Volume LV, Issue 16419, 13 January 1919, Page 7

THE HARVEST.

ASHBURTON COUNTY. There was a sudden change in tho weather at Ashburton on Friday, when, after bright sunshine in tho early -morning, tho sky became overcast, and the atmosphere bitterly cold. A light rain commenced to fall in the afternoon, and early in the evening it came down heavily, and continued for several hours. The fall up to y a.m. on Saturday was .39in, and ono degree of frost was also registered. Further cold showers foil during Saturday morningThe sudden change put a stop to all harvest operations, and also to the late shearing of sheep. Tho- .harvesting of oats has become pretty general in many parts of the district, though there is a considerable area which was sown late, and is still quite green, and this will benefit by the rainfall. A lengthy spell of fine, warm woathor is now badly noeded to ripen off the wheat crops, and to enable settlers in tho back-countty to finish shearing. Tho oat crops generally will bo vory patchy, so far as yields are concerned, though there will be many instance in which they will bo well up to tho averago of tlio best seasons. A lot of particularly good crops of l>oth wheat and oats are to be seen all the way through the Winchmoro and parts of tho Lyndhurst districts, and the fields in many instances promise to be highly satisfactory. Better looking crops of both wlioat and oats have never boon seen, even in tho best of seasons, | than thofio to be met with all down tho Wakantii road to the school, and away back again' by tho Beach road to Ashburton. Some particularly fine looking crons aro also to be seen away down from Tinwald past Riversdalo and on to AVheatstono, also down Ford's road and through the Flemington and "Willowby districts. Tho oat crops through parts of tho Wheatstone and Waterton districts, where there are ointensive areas of light land, are 6hort in the straw, though in many N instances it is well headed, iconic particularly good crops of both wheat and oats are to be seen through the EifTelton antl Jxingbeuch districts, as wo!I as furtherover and through tlio Lowcliffo and Coldstream districts.