HARVEST PROSPECTS.

Globe, Volume XXI, Issue 1815, 15 December 1879, Page 3

HARVEST PROSPECTS.

MIDDLE ISLAND. With the advent of December, the month of sunny sky and harvest weather, an improvement in the climate of the past few months was naturally looked for. Up to the date of writing, however, while we have experienced a few days in which the mercury has denoted harvest heat, the weather has been anything but quite settled. During the last week of November and early part of this month rain fell copiously, threatening floods in ill-fated spots. A prevalence of three weeks’ dry weather would now do no harm. The crops requiring forcing warmth and those slightly affected by rust would profit considerably by such a change. The Middle Island harvest prospects are at present exceedingly cheering, but in the history of settlement our agricultural affairs have never been more critical or has so largo an amount of arrears been brought forward against harvest returns. Farmers have sustained losses on crops of two successive seasons from excessive drought. Last year this was more severely felt than in the previous season, for in the latter it will bo remembered the rain arriving during December revived the crops on the verge of harvest. Neither season was “ the farmers’ year,” as was the case in 1876, when the averages of the island were—wheat 23 bushels, oats 31 bushels, barley 29 bushels, and potatoes about 5i tons per acre. Last season’s averages wore—wheat 18 bushels, oats 20 bushels, and barley 20 bushels to the acre, which although taken from the Government returns was a somewhat high estimate. Harvest as a rule will bo late, crops being very much checked by the cold weather of October and November. It is generally hoped that the colonial harvest will escape the rainy r eason which fell to the lot of Great Britain. On lands previously weakened by o vor-cropping, last season’s failure has told to the advantage of this year, the rest or forced fallow afforded to the soil has contributed greatly to the straw of tho present. The total area under crop last year in Canterbury and Otago was 610,542 acres, the average yield for the former provincial district being wheat twenty-one bushels, oats twenty-five, andbarloy twenty-one andthrce-quarterbushelsperacre. It is anticipated that in these two large groin-growing

districts the area under crop (his season will be as large, if not more extensive, than last year, but to ascertain this we have to await the publication of the returns. Here a word may be said as to the period of their publication. Last harvest was well over in January, but the returns were not issued till the middle of March. This is a serious delay to persons interested in the results which statistics indicate. Of the Nelson crops there are only a few particulars to hand, but these speak favorably of their advancement. Commencing north and proceeding south, the first largo crop district is that included in the Ashley county between the Hurunui and Ashley rivers, which last year had 132,733 acres in grain, grasses and potatoes. Here the wheats in the centre of the district are well forward, particularly on the banks of the Ashley and Waimakariri. Everywhere the straw is the height of ordinary fences, and both oats, wheat, and barley have shot into ear. Blight has shown itself in the Kowai district, but to a very limited extent. The Selwyn county last year was returned as having the largest acreage in crop of any county in New Zealand, having no less than 263,7-10 acres, or within 20,000 acres of the total crop land of the whole Otago provincial district. Throughout the Courtenay districts the wheat looks very well, and apparently free from attacks of natural enemies (sparrows excepted). The Malvern crops are rather backward compared with more favored localities. There are several fine crops in the Eiccarton portion of the county, as well as in the Templeton road district. The Lincoln district, which usually carries a large crop, is this year well to the fore. Out to Southbridge, at Irwell, Doyleston, and Lecsfon, some grand crops present themselves, and the Ellesmere district presents a flourishing appearance, few complaints being made of the vicissitudes of the season. The fringe of farms along the Eakaia afford evidence of great promise, and seem, as a rule, to have profited by recent rains. The Ashburton County has already been fully reported on. There were 248,074 acres under crop last season, which has been largely increased this year. Several magnificent farms in the South Eakaia district give promise of large returns, and have also bonefltted by the recent weather. To the Ashburton Forks there is a fair of extent of land under grain. The Mount Hutt district gives promise of a large yield, while from Upper Ashburton to Longbeach, as well as along the Hinds and Rangitata rivers, there is an immense area of healthy-looking grain, chiefly wheat. The Geraldine county presents a large extent of beautiful-looking crops. The return of last year gave 182,895 acres, and this year that quantity appears to be exceeded. The south bank of the Eangitata, the country watered by the Orari and Opihi, are all covered. The Levels district presents a grand sight, and as a rule, while the grain is well forward, the rust has hardly made its appearance. The County of Waimate includes a quantity of new land taken up this season for the first time. Last year it was computed 110,679 acres were in crop and grass. The Pareora crops look everywhere promising, while in the Otaio district there is the largest extent, and here rust has made a temporary appearance on one or two of the farms. There is a vast extent of crops over the Makikihi district, Waimate proper, and North Waiho, which, at this season, looks better in appearance than the grain did at this time last year. Along the banks of the Waitaki and Hekatcramoa the same remarks apply. The Waitaki county south of the river had 63,377 acres in grain last year, which wifi be increased upon this year by the fact of several sew farms being formed. The country out through Awamoko, the Lower Waitaki Downs, and Maerewhenua, and from thence to Livingstone and Ngapara and surrounding Oatnaru, which produces some of the finest grain in the colony, presents some of the best pieces of crops in the island. There is a general freedom from rust and blight, and while in some of the valleys the wheat is backward on the level, on the hill sides and tops the crops look splendid. This part of the island is eminently adapted for growing the beautiful samples which were produced at the Oamaru show, in fact it would be a reproach on the district if its farmers could not produce such bags of wheat and oats and barley presenting a bright color. The crops are well advanced in the county of Waikouaite, but the area is more limited than in the last county. There were here 18,997 acres last year, and probably a like number this season. Around Palmerston both the wheat and oats are well forward, barley is grown only to a limited extent. The next county of importance for general crop producing is the Taieri. The acreage last year here was 28,429, and the yields were very good. There is a fair amount of crop out through Mosgiel and along the banka of the Silverstream which, compared to Canterbuiy crops, are about a month later. The rains hero have caused a too rapid growth, and the straw will be a serious drawback to successful reaping operations. All the East Taieri hundred was covered with crops, and on the Berwick side of the river there were several good patches. The Bruce county had 28,828 acres last year. This season there seems to be a good extent under grain chiefly at Waihola, near the lake at Milton, South Tokomariro and on the bank of the Olutha. The Olutha country last year had 1000 acres less in crop than the previous named county, but this year the West Clutha will swell the quantity. Along the railway line to Invercargill the Southland crops are seen to every advantage, and if the rest throughout that county may be so judged the recent much needed rain has produced an admirable effect in advancing them. A fortnight ago everywhere there was an excessive dryness south of Milton, but the last rains have improved harvest prospects to a wonderful degree. This county returned upwards of a million bushels of oats lest year, and a fifth of that quantity of wheat. There were 63,455 acres in crop. It is understood that the usual drawback to harvest here is the late summer weather and the early approach of the rainy season. Several large estates in which the Glasgow Bank had an interest are about being cut into farms and sold, and the otherwise naked land of this country ought to bo made available for crops. The counties of Vincent, Maniototo, Lake Tuapeka and Wallace add to the returns of the crops of the Middle Island, but time has not yet allowed an inspection or the receipt of reports from them. The crops of grass this season throughout the country are very heavy, in fact some of the crops it will be difficult to save, and others have from their density suffered from the wet, which has brought on mildew. Summarising our remarks, it may be said that the harvest prospects of the principal grain producing districts of the Middle Island were never at this season more hopeful, and, as the harvest comes on, we trust it will be our pleasing duty to record their fulfilment.