THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2128, 17 January 1880, Page 2

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

It will please many of our readers to learn that the heavy showers of the past few days has done little or no damage to the crops in this district. A gentleman, who yesterday performed the feat of riding over nearly 100 miles of the undulating and level country between Timaru and Burke’s Pass, gives us a most cheerful account of the condition of.the grain crops. Although the roads were swampy, and, in some

places flooded, the aspect d£ the paddock's was-promising in the. extreme. Wherever the crops were anything like uniform, the wind and rain had made no unfavorable impression whatever. In a tew exceptional instances where the fields are irregular, the wind has caught the taller patches, and some slight damage may be anticipated. Most of the paddocks of wheat and oats, however, are as level as a bowling green, and the adverse weather has failed to make the slightest impression on them, beyond stimulating their growth, Along the plains to Albury, and from Albury to Burke’s pass the country resembles a vast sea of rapidly ripening grain. Nothing to approach it, has ever before been witnessed by the oldest settler in this part of Canterbury. The branch line of railway will be taxed to its utmost, in conveying the produce to the seaport. Mr Palmer, our informant tells, us is doing a splendid business in his new family hotel at the. Albury station. Merchants and speculators from all parts arc visiting the locality arranging for the coming harvest. ‘ Should the weather continue favorable, the harvest will be general in from five to ten days. The wheat and oats look splendid, but the barley paddocks look patchy, as if the crop was suffering from some kind of blight. Mr Allan, of the Three Springs, has a magnificent crop of 1700 acres in extent. On either side of Fairlie Creek nothing but healthy grain can be seen as far as the eye can penetrate. Mr Goodman, of Irishman’s* Creek, has also several extensive and healthy-looking paddocks. Altogether, a capital harvest may safely be looked forward to, unless sonic accident of a most disastrous nature intervenes.