SOUTHERN CROP REPORTS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1341, 19 January 1912, Page 8

SOUTHERN CROP REPORTS.

; A CHEERFUL OUTLOOK. ) . The crops in the llethven district are looking exceptionally well at present, says a Canterbury paper, but owing to the continual rain rust is very much feared. Should line weather, however, prevail for the harvesting operations, this sesaon's crops should prove one of the most payable ever experienced in the district. The root crops, which are in greater area 5 than for many years, have done splendid- ; ly, and in most cases good strikes have • 1 been made. In a few isolated cases the ) turnip fly has made its appearance, but in these cases the land has been again 5 tilled and resown. The early crops are s receiving the attention, of the small birds, I and great havoc is being caused by these ■ pests. The fruit crops arc also looking " well, and despite the late frosts and 3 winds are in abundance. Hares are very > plentiful in the district, but beyond slight " damage lo orchards, are not proving de- -. structive. Shearing is very backward. } Some shearers, tired of waiting for fine ' weather, have gone away, and, consequently, when fine weather does come, shearers ' will not be available to do tho work.