THE CROPS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

New Zealand Times, Volume XXXIII, Issue 5260, 1 February 1878, Page 4

THE CROPS IN SOUTH CANTERBURY.

In a review of the condition of the crops, and the prospects of harvest in South Canterbury, the Timaru Herald says:—We shall be near the mark in estimating the acreage sown in wheat in this district at fully one-third in excess of what it was last year. Calculating on this basis, then, we find that the total acreage of wheat in the South Canterbury District for the present season is-about 41,500 acres, the bulk of which promises a fair crop of good grain. A considerable portion of the crops, owing to the long drought, will of course be light, and in some instances will not even be harvested, the growers having turned their live stock into the fields; but notwithstanding these drawbacks, the present season augurs to be an average one both as regards yield and value, and we fully expect to hear of less complaints from farmers, as a whole, than was the case last year. So far as we have been able to ascertain, the yield of wheat this season may fairly be estimated at twenty bushels per acre, taking-the general remits throughout. Some farmers will undoubtedly reap much more than this, but on the other hand many will reap much less, and we therefore think that from twenty to, allowing the very largest margin, twenty-five bushels, will be the full extent of the crops. At the average we have named this will give a total yield of, roughly speaking, 905,000 bushels, which again, after deducting local . requirements in the shape of food and next year's seed, will leave at least 750,000 bushels for export to foreign markets and the different ports of New Zealand. The quality from all appearance ■ will be exceptionally good, provided, of course, that: we have ordinary weather during harvesting. : : Samples of growing wheat that we have inspected afford every . indication of good, sound, plump grain being gathered, of a far superior quality to that of last year.