NORTH OTAGO CROPS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1344, 23 January 1912, Page 8

NORTH OTAGO CROPS.

HEAVY POTATO YIELD EXPECTED. A run through the country north of Dunedin and up as far as Oumsmi cannot, says a southern writer, fail to impress even the casual observer with tho enormous (iiiantily of green food that is available, and often apparently going lo waste. In strong contrast with a year or so ago, the country is in a generally thriving condition. From Dunedin right up to Oaninru the country on nil hands is looking splendid. There is nil abundance of feed for stock—so much so, in fact, that some ot' it. is going io waste, as farmers have not the stock to keep it down. The grass is really too lons for the shceji to do well on, and of a nature too watery to enable the lambs to fatten readily, but cattle appear to bo in first-class; condition all the way along. Tlio grain crops present a magnificent sight, being often level with tho tops of tho fences. They are heavy and givo every indication of yielding well, though in places there are indications that the small birds are beginning their depredations. It is noticeable, also, that the crops are much later than usual. The green'crops, on the other hand, are more variablo in character, for occasionally there may be seen a full crop n:i potatoes or of turnips almost meeting in the drills, and then in the very next iarm a crop which has neither been thinned nor cleaned, so much seems to have depended 011 the season of the year in which it has been sown. Tho early part of the season was extremely favourable, the land being in perfect order, and any crops sown then have so far given entirely satisfactory results. Following on this period of good weather came two months continuous rain, and crops sown immediately prior to that havo made practically no progress, and remain 1111thinned and uncleaned in the drill. In some instances where a field has been only half-sown with turnips or potatoes, it is evident that projected operations have had to be abandoned altogether on account of the wet spell. Round about Oaniaru itself the crops aro better than they have been for five years, and it is a pleasure to see sullne of the fine heavy wheat fields. So far it is standing on its feet all right, but in the heavier patch there may be seen an occasional patch borne down by the rain. Unlike tho Palmerston and Waikouaiti districts, the green crops also promise an abundant supply of feed for stock. The potatoes particularly cover the ground very closely, and give every indication of yielding very heavy crops indeed, provided they escape the blight. Red and white clover is abundant, and more in evidence than usual. Throughout the district there seems to be ample supplies of fodder for cattlo and sheep. A considerable area of grass is being allowed to go to seed, for as stock is depleted the farmer has no more to put. on to it, while a considerable amount also is being turned into hav and ensilage.