THE CROPS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1769, 21 October 1879, Page 3

THE CROPS.

♦ SOUTHEEN DISTKIOT. The farmers on the plains are jubilant crops in nearly all cases looking better than for three years past. The weather so far has been as suitable for the plains as poaaible, in fact, more cannot be said than that the grain growers have given up their usual privilege of grumbling. The following are a few remarks on the prospects bo far : EANGITATA SOUIH. In this district, whioh borders the Eangitata river, there is a large area under wheat, and knowing the quality of this land, the result anticipated is a magnificent yield. A larger area, fully 5000 acrc3 more than last year, is under crop, the great majority being new land. EANGITATA ISLAND. On this island there is hardly as much land under cereals as last season, and the wot in the beginning of the season kept some of the farmers back, the consequence being that in a good many instances barley and oats were substituted for wheat. The peculiar excellence of this land for grazing purposes has, however, induced many residents here to lay down their paddooks in English grass, so that ■we may anticipate a large yield of grass seed and abundance of hay in addition to the grain. Owing to the numerous streams which irrigate this locality, there is little doubt that in a few years the Eangitata Island will become one of the principal cattle grazing districts in Canterbury. NORTH EANGITATA. Between the Eangitata and the Hinds a good deal of new land has been broken up, and of course Bown in wheat, whioh looks •wonderfully well. There is a good deal of barley and oats, but owing to so much of the land being new, wheat has much the largest area. ASHBUETON SOUTH. Between the Hinds and Ashburton, taking the Long Beaoh road, the crops show well, but are not quite so far forward as might be expected, the heavy land and the wet_ spring preventing the farmers from getting in their crops as early as usual. Mr Jno. G-rigg is fast getting his land sown down, but going on the Ohatmoss estate we found the land naturally swampy, and the grain sown here, though certainly looking well, ia evidently only put in to prepare the land for grazing purposes in the future. Mr A. Dawson has cropped his land largely, and his enterprise looks as if it would be well rewarded, all descriptions of orop looking splendid. Dp Graham's road all again is prosperous, though in some instances the late rain has prevented the residents finishing the rolling of their grain. ASHBUETON NOETH. Passing down the Beach road we come to Mr Peter Chalmers', whose crops are in splendid fettle, promising a rich return, but indeed all the country from Ashburton to Moore's old station at Wakanui and the sea ib equally full of promise. We were agreeably surprised to find that the soil on the terrace here olose to the beaoh is from six to eight feet deep before shingle is reached, and although the crops here are a little backward they are healthy and vigorous, possessing that dark green color the farmer delights in seeing. On the Wakanui road, near the sea, the crops are also magnificent, bnt on some of the shallow soil there are patches whioh will even yet wither "up with a few weeks'sun. The farmers' plague in the Bhape ot sorrel is abundant in this locality. Near.'ng Ashburton again crops are all that could be desired. WAKANUI NOETH. Through this district the crops aro generally magnificent, but in some places were the soil Was blown off last year, there will be light crops if we have much sun or heavy nor'westers. The immense area whioh has been broken up this year carries as grand a looking crop of young wheat as any agriculturist could dcaire to see. SEAEIELD AND OHEETSET. Of these districts the same remarks may be made as of the preceding, the crops generally, except on the exceedingly poor land, promising a large return. The area in crop this year far exceeds that of last year, and the railway authorities will have all their work to do, if the weather continues propitious, to get away the large quantities of groin which will probably be harvested. EAKAIA. Prom Ohertsey to Eakaia there is also a large area under crop looking well, but some of (the poor land is infected with sorrel, which will no doubt materially lessen the yield by impoverishing the soil. From above the lino to the foot of the hills and northwards towards Christchurob, reports reach us which Bhow that although we have not visited these districts, the crops are all that can be desired, and, in fact, the universal feeling is, that the Canterbury plains will this year turn out an almost unprecedented crop, and if this is realised, and the prices as suspected rulo high at home, the Canterbury farmer may look forward to a season of bright prosperity succeeding the depression and disaster which have been his unhappy lot for the past two years.