SOUTHERN CROPS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 438, 22 February 1909, Page 2

SOUTHERN CROPS.

A COMPREHENSIVE REVIEW. .''■>. "When I was .down in, Canterbury : said Mr. Bisset, editor of Publications in thoDe-" partment. of Agriculture; to'";. a■■'- Dominion reporter) I /visited , the . .principal-grain-f rowing districts iii 'North Canterbury, the Illesmera ■ district; ■ the' Courtenay district, the Ashburtdii: district, and .South .Canterbury. ■■The. ripening of the grain, has .been; delayed by dull, cold weather, -with: a.good deal of 'rain,/.and' on the- first days of niy. visit work .was suspended owing to showers, although' much of .-the grain was ripe... Later in the ■ week, : with; fine' weather, harvesting' was resumed with vigour; and.the .hulk:of tho grain in North. Canterbury: should by thistime be secured,, and in fair condition.; The condition of the grain this.season.will; in very few cases admit of its being threshed from the' stook unless farmers' are prepared: to take the risk of lotting it. stand in the fields for a considerable .time to. harden the grain/ Some wheat, which had 'been stook-' threshed•'-has,.b.eon• rejected by,.millers and sold for. chick-feed. A: few. samples, ; apparently in first-class; ;•; seen,' but they were exceptional/;/ /' '■■■>: ■; ■'■■•■'■ .-. A '.';£ "Crops generally ,'■ are /.very.:' heavy—much, heavier than was: anticipated from their' appearance in the month'of November. /.A.good deal of damage has .been/done.by:the rain and; high; winds beating down • and twisting the crops .' past; the/possibility 'of/reaping. This/is, principally .on; the : swamp'.'lands. -On strong lands;- and'.on most.' of /the', light; soils of tlio ; Plajns, : the .crops; have, stood up/well/ There .is ; :in .most localities some; blight -of various kinds, which will/also -reduce' tlie yield. .'Still,, the harvest /will be: one of: the best, ever; known in/New Zealand;' ■'.■';"■ v , >■'. ■'. '"Feed:is everywhere most, abundant. Many of the stubbles aro nearly knee .'.deep .'-in. clover, ;aaid; the/rape; and turnipsv'are : ; mak-i ing splendid .growth .without any /present appearance ;of .disease; The.'; only., complaint under ; this: head is .of the scarcity: andih'igh prices of lambs for-fattening purposes. They are practically /on'. the- - same level of "price as fat: lambs/ ; Stock 'of : all kinds is' in 'prime' condition; ;.:hut.;fai ; mers have; been-reticent in marketing owing/to the.reduced.prices.offered, by-the exporters, ■ and to the/difficulty, of replacing fat sto'ck with,stores". .They wiil : be .forced to sell/sopher' or 'later, whatever the■'-.market.-, price.;/ Hitherto. freezing :works have/'done/even less.business; 1 than in the corresponding period :of last seascii. • ■ i-; . ■."The/;potato jcrops/look , well,;,'arij : iio.\apr:' peiirance of. blight : was /at'.'that./time/iidtice i!