THE SOUTHERN HARVEST.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1971, 30 January 1914, Page 10

THE SOUTHERN HARVEST.

A PROMISING OUTLOOK. Good progress is being made wifcli tlio harvest all through the district from Christcluircli to Springfield and Malvern (states t-ko "Press"). Thoro is ft large amount of crop to bo seen along tlio old West Coast road, and loth wheat and: oats aro looking splendid. Oats aro being cut in all directions, and stacks are to bo seen either being built or completed, f' lo fine weather sinco Christinas has brought oa tlio crops rapidly, and l tho oat crop,", aro ripo as far back as tho foot hills, wliilo wheat is everywhere changing colour, "-and somo littlo -has been cut. There has been an absence of strong winds this season, and thcro is therefore lc9s anxiety to cut the crops on tho gteen side. Thoro is no threshing from the stook to bo seen, but the low price of oatc probably accounts for this. Tho yield throughout tho district should lie much above tho average, as tho wet season has suited tho class of' land that li<?s west of Cbristclvurch. Tho potato crop, which is apparently not a heavy one, looks healthv.

A South Canterbury correspondent, of tho "Press" writes: —Of all country doings, work in tho corn fields now is chiefly interesting; for, in spite of sudden rains to lay down tho crops, and north-west gales to strip them when they got up again, tho weather ' has caused serious harm in very few cases, and, given ordinary luck, wo-havo tho soothing prospect of a successful harvest right; ahead.' This hopeful comment at tho. moment would hold good.on any-farm between tho Rangitata and Opihi, and back inland to Peel Forest, and southwards again to tho Hanging Rock. ;

It is not often, that harvesting takes place in tho Riversdalo district so early os January, but passengers bv the Wait men. trains to-day wero surprised-to seo harvesters at work on Mr. P. Tither's farm (says_ Saturday's "Mataura Ensign"). This, however, is an exceptional crop. The bulk of tho oat-harvest will not bo ready for the binder for at least another three weeks. As a..whole, the crops throughout tlio Waimea Plains: district are looking exceedingly. well. Tho_ oat crop this season on tho Waimea Plains promises to be one of the best experienced for several years.