THE RECORDER.

Oamaru Mail, Volume IV, Issue 878, 7 February 1879, Page 2 (Supplement)

THE RECORDER.

THE HARVEST. (FROM A TRAVELLING CORRESPONDENT.) Having recently made a tour through the principal grain-growing districts which have their outlet chiefly via Oamaru, it affords me pleasure, at your request, to record in the Agriculturist my observations of the various crops in the Waitakiand portions of the Waimate Counties.

"WAIMATE COUNTY. HAKATERAMEA VALLEY.

Both wheat and oat crops are looking wonderfully well, the former especially so. Messrs. Murdoch and Watson have about 500 acres growing on Mr. Lane's pro-

perty -which will certainly return an average of 35 bushels per acre. The quality, too, will be of a high class, if the weather is anything of a favorable nature. The oats suffered considerably from the high winds on Thursday last, but still promise a fair yield". It is doubtless in the recollection of most of your readers that at the recent show of the North Otago Agricultural and Pastoral Association Hakateramea carried off first honors in both these cereals, and I see no reason why tliis coup should not be repeated this year. The broadcast turnips on the Hakateramea station (Messrs. Howden, M'Gregor, and Co. 's) are a sight to see, and show the eminent adaptability of the soil to raise green crops. WAIHO. The crops in this district have also a favorable appearance, especially on the low-lying lands, the higher levels having suffered to some extent from the dry summer. Oats are the predominating crop, and a large quantity should be turned out of the district this season. WAITAKI COUNTY. JIAEREWHEITOA. There is a very large breadth of oats and considerable areas of wheat and barley raised this season on this magnificent estate, which has been well named Maerewhenua, or " Garden Lands " in the English interpretation. The crops are of | a diversified character, some of the farms promising capital returns, while others present but an indifferent appearance. I have not visited it since the recent wind and hailstorms, but I am reliably informed that the ripe grain which was uncut has suffered somewhat seriously. It is matter for surprise that farmers in this district do not go in for self-binding reapers. There is an immense breadth of country here on which these machines would work splendidly, but such is the power of prejudice, or perhaps the dread of innovation so characteristic of many farmers, that the croppers on the Maerewhenua estate prefer to work away, even on level land, with the old back delivery. PAPAKAIO. On visiting the Plain I found harvest in full swing, some of the farmers having their crops all in stook, and in more than one instance the thrasher was at work. Many of the farmers here have wisely availed themselves of the services of the self-binder, and have found its use contribute largely to their profit and comfort. I would just mention one instance : Mr. D. Borrie has cut down some 230 acres of crop with a " M'Cormick" machine, averaging about 18 acres per day, without any more serious breakage than two or three pieces of wire. The labor employed was one man driving the machine and two men stooking. The crops on the Plain are much better than was anticipated some time ago, and I am satisfied that the average yield will not be much less than that of former seasons. WAIAKEKA. The crops in this beautiful valley were a treat to look at before the recent disagreeable change of weather came, and even now one would have to travel a long distance before seeing such crops as are growing on Mr. Menloves far-famed Windsor Park Estate. That magnificent tract of country known as " The Tables" lias produced this year the finest crops I have seen anywhere. I regret, however, to have to report that many of the more elevated and exposed ridges in the Upper W'aiaroka have sustained severe damage, and in some instances, I fear, the revenue derivable from grain will be little, if anything, more than the expenditure. Some of the farmers talk of not harvesting at all, but I fancy maturer consideration will alter their intentions. KAKAXri, AXEBAY, AND OTEPOPO. Oats seem to be the favorite crop with the agriculturists of these districts, .'iHhoiiyh some excellent fields of wheat are to be seen. Both cereals look well, and I believe will turn out satisfactorily. The barley patches also present a favorable appearance. On sonic of the Ivakanui farms a considerable acreage has been allotted tc potatoes and mangolds. These crops show indications of being the finest that have been realised for years. INCH YALLEY. Our correspondent, writing on the Ist instant, says":—The harvest is now in full operation, and although the crops are short, I believe the yield of grain would have been pretty near the average, had not the strong wind of Thursday last shaken it to a considerable extent, but the loss sustained that day by the fanners will spoil their calculations for the season. I believe that in some paddocks there are as much as ten bushels of a loss to the acre. I have not heard of any reapers and binders being at work in this locality, but I hear that Mr. W. Cochrane, near Palmerston, intends to have two at work on his farm next week. Harvestmen are pretty plentiful. A good many Chinamen are engaged in the harvest-field, but most of the farmers prefer Europeans, for although the Chinammen work for less wages, it takes one more of them than of Europeans to keep a machine going. The general wage, I believe, is one sliilling an hour, and found, for white men, and for Chinamen, one shilling an hour, and find themselves. Through the effects of the long continuance of dry weather, the pasture fields are very bare, and the stock is consequently looking rather poor ; and although farmers as a rule do not like rain in the harvest, I do not think many would object to a day's rain for the sake of the grass. In a good many places, too, water is very scarce.

Writing again on the 3rd instant, our correspondent says : —We had a heavy hailstorm yesterday, but it did not last for any length of time, and I do not think it was of sufficient duration to do much damage. We experienced a heavy fall of rain this afternoon, which has put a stop to harvest operations, and the hills up country by the Pigroot, I notice, are covered with snow; rather an unusual thing at this season of the year.

OTHER DISTRICTS.

The East Taieri correspondent of the Dally Times states that the harvest has commenced, but that it will not be general in the district for two or three weeks. The bulk of the hay crop lias been saved, and a good deal of green wheat and oats has been cut for chatting. The wheat and oat crops are of fair average length, but are rather thin, owing to drought in the early part of .the season. It is thought, however, that they will yield fair returns. Barley is getting well forward. Potatoes are healthy, but only a small crop has been planted. Turnips and other green crops look well. A correspondent of the Bruce Herald writes :—As showing the great loss to the settlers of Inch Glutha through the floods, I noticed this last few days several of the settlers from the Island going away with their teams and reapers elsewhere to work. This time last year, they had the golden headed com to reap on their own homesteads. What a contrast now. Most of these farms are still covered with water, or silt is laying on them in places many feet deep. However, we still hope to see thing 3 put straight in the winter time, when the river is low, so as to enable the breaches in the river bank to be made good. The Ashburton Mail says":—Large areas of crops throughout the County of Ashburton have been cut, and threshing is .now becoming general in the district. The yield is a fairly good one, and certainly much better than it was expected to be in the early part of the season, when we had such a long stretch of dry weather. |

The Waitangi Tribune says that the damage done to the ripe crops in the Waimate district by the late severe weather has been considerable.