HARVEST PROSPECTS FOR 1882.

South Canterbury Times, Issue 2770, 8 February 1882, Page 2

HARVEST PROSPECTS FOR 1882.

THE CROPS IN SOUTH CANTER-. • BURY. Statistics for 1881—Geraldine County —Number of acres in wheat, 32,657; estimated gross produce in bushels, 824,580; in oats (exclusive of 1707 acres for green food or hay), 14,277, estimated to produce 413,344 bushels ; in barley, 3959 acres, estimated at 101,744 bushels ; in potatoes 764 acres, estimated to produce 2579 tons. Waimate County—Number of acres in wheat, 25,052, estimated gross produce in bushels, 658,669 ; in oats (exclusive of 887 acres for bay) 9,758 acres, estimated to produce 354,547 bushels ; in barley, 1883 acres, estimated at 55,421 bushels ; in.potatoes, 513 acres, estimated to produce 1225 tons. i l ' The agricultural district of South Canterbury, which is bounded onjthe North by the Rangitata river and on the South by the Waitaki, is acknowledged to be the best grain producing district in the colony. It comprises the counties of Geraldine and Waimate. These counties, although not so extensive in area as the counties of Ashburton and Selwyn, contain land of abetter average quality for grain growing, and crops grown in this district are not so liable to suffer from the effects of a long drought, because three-fourths of the agricultural area is down land with a clay subsoil capable of retaining moisture for a lengthened period. In a wet season the natural drainage provided by theundulations cf the country prevent excessive growth of straw and diminish the serious consequences which follow after blight and rust, so frequently met with in rich flat land. There arfof course, fair sizedij, areas of the' latter class of land from the Opihi river,to the Orari, and, from Waimate to the Waiho river, but in dry seasons like those experienced this and last year, they have grown the heaviest crops. The crops grown on the tract of light shingle land, from the Eangitata to the Orari, on the Levels Plains, and on the sea side of the railway line from the Waiho to, the Waitaki have suffered a good deal this season from drought. The total area of the two qualities of land just described is, however, comparatively small. The statistics given at the head of this report are those- compiled last year by the Government agricultural statistics enumerators, and they are published in order to institute a comparison of this year’s harvest propects with the estimated results of last year. In order to render the statistics more intelligible, and to ahow at a glance the grain producing capabilities of the two counties, the following averages have been worked out, and a comparison of them with the estimated averages for this year as given at the end of, this report, will prove interesting. Averages for 1881: —Geraldine County—Wheat, 25.45, or rather , under bushels per acre; oats, 28.9 or nearly 29 bushels ; barley, 25.9 or nearly 26 bushels; potatoes, 3£ tons. Waimate CountyWheat, bushels ; oats, 36J; barley, 29.43 or nearly 29 J bushels; potatoes, rather over 2i tons per acre. The statistics for 1880—a moist, favorable year for grain-growing—showed an increase of fully twenty per cent on the above averages. In the Geraldine County this year there is about the same area of wheat, and an increase of about fifteen per cent on the area of oats. There is less barley, and, with a tew exceptions, the quality is not firstclass, and the acreage in potatoes is about twenty per cent larger, but the average yield per acre is not expected to show much increase. The area of wheat in the Waimate County is nearly brio fourth larger than last year, but the area of land under oats has not increased. The breadth of land under barley is about the same as last year, and Jl ’ve are some excellent samples. are also some very bad ones. Potatoes are grown in about the same quantity as last year. The weather experienced for a few weeks after sowing the grain was not favorable. A drought sot in which lasted for nearly three months, yet it was surprising how most of the crops nrew. South Canterbury, however, was fortunato enough to got more moisture than

North Otago. The Oamaru suffered very severely by the drought, and many of the wheat, crops in the vicinity of Oamaru, and even on the much vaunted Taieri plains of Otago, were ruined. This result is to be regretted, particularly as both the districts referred to ore excellent grain growing districts—Oamaru especially—but the fates seemed to be against them this year. ' As the South Canterbury hardest approached—via,' : within a few weeks.of the ripening of the different cereals—rain fell heavily at short intervals, and although in many cases it did no good to the ripening grain, it did very little harm. Knowing the uncer tainties of New Zealand harvests, so far as weather is concerned—though thank Providence they are not so an. certain in that respect as those experienced in England for the'past few; years, if that is any consolation to bur disappointed agriculturists —we deferred our annual inspection of the crops till the last moment, in order to be in a position to estimate fairly and with the greatest amount of accuracy the probable yield. Results proved that the delay was judicious. Our old friends (?) the nor’-westers—it would, perhaps, be unkind to say foesr-paid ns a destructive visit on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday week; knd reduced the expected average yield by from six to eight bushels in both wheat and oats. The early: oats—the Canadians—suffered the most. As compared with North Canterbury this district did not suffer so much, but the wind caused a loss of many thousands of pounds sterling. The loss was increased' -by the scarcity ; of harvest laborr-a result for which .the 'present Government is mainly responsible, by creating a financial scare, stopping public works in the winter, and causing many of the best laborers to leave the country.' There are still many excellent laboring men lefc in the colony, but there are also a large number of idle worthless fellows who are not deserving of the slighest consideration. To realise the full fdree of the latter expression one has only to travel about the country at.the present time, and see the number of men who refuse to work for good wages, and leave the ripe standing crops of the unfortunate farmers to the mercy of the merciless nor’-westers. The prices for harvest labor this year—for tying and stocking—range from six to nine shillings per acre. Contracts for cutting, tying, stocking and stacking, average from 15s to 18s per acre. Labor by the week from £2 to £2 10s, and found. The-latter rate has beenpaid in numerous instances for ten hours work, and 1 in cases which came under the, notice of our agricultural reporter during his travels, it was refused. Cue instance is worthy of notice. It occurred at Ctaio. Some men applied for work, and they were told the terras. The repre sentative man of the gang said : “We will consider the matter. ” Shortly afterwards—after consultation with his mates—he said to the farmer: “We have revolved your offer in our mind, and have come to the conclusion that £2los a week and tucker, for ten hours, is not good enough.” Such a reply from men soliciting work seems almost incredible, but probably the man did not know/ when he gave the “ revolving ’’ reply, that there was a “ a chiel amang them talcin’ notes,” etc. So much for the eccentricities of labor. It is to be hoped that the illustration just given of the old saying “looking for work 'and praying that he may not find it ” is the only one that could be recorded in the district this season, but it only serves to show that Some men —very few' let : us hope—are not, to say the least, desirable colonists. The following is a detailed description of the crops, in the order they were inspected, commencing with the county of

GERALDINE. Taking Timaru as a centre and travelling south, the first part of the county visited is Kingsdown, one of the finest grain growing spots in it. There were pearly 3000 acres of wheat grown in this locality last year, but now there are not more than 500 acres. Most of the land has been laid down to grass with'pats, and there are about 200 acres of barley. The latter is very short in the straw, rather discolored and of only average quality. , The oats—Canadians and, Tartarian in about equal quantities—ought to yield an average of 35 bushels. The wheat will give a fair return. The country on the north side of the Pareora river, including the Upper Pareora and Mpunt Horrible districts, is looking well. The wheat will give a good average yield although in a few cases the wind has shaken it out badly. The oats should average over 30 bushels, and in a few cases the yield will reach over 60 bushels. There are several fields of good barley, but the samples as a rule are lean in consequence of the dry weather. The proportion of wheat and oats in this part are as one to two. From Timaru westward, at the back of the Levels estate on both sides.of the ,Waiiti road, and extending several miles beyond the estate of Mr J. Page, there, is not so much crop as last year, but it is of good quality, and will come up to the county average. Taking the next block of the district, namely from the Washdyke to the Arowhenua river on the sea side of the Temuka road, a tract of land that includes the well-known Soadpwn estate, the crops are fairly promising, but they are lighter than usual and not of such large area, the bulk of the.landj being laid down to grass. The greater part of the' Seadown estate is now cut up into farms, and settlement on it is increasing rapidly. The best crops are met with in what is known as the Upper or Arowhenua portion of the estate. The wheat here is exceptionally good, and two or three of the crops ought to thrash out fully 40 : bushels. The strip of, country to the westward of the main roadj between theOpihi river and the Levels estate, including the Pleasant Point district and extending up to the Cave, does not carry so much crop as in former seasons. The light land on the Levels Plains has produced very meagre yields, some of the oat crops being very thin and short in the straw and scarcely worth the expense and labor of cutting. Around the Point the crops are yielding better, but the nor’-west wind before alluded to has, materially decreased the quantity of grain to be saved. Blight has made its.appearance in some of the wheal crops. Crossing the river at the Point, and traversing the district known as the Waitohi Flat, from Temuka to the hills, the prospect is a little more cheering. Wheat and oats are grown in this district in about equal quantities, but the area is scarcely so large as last year. The wheat ought to average about 26 bushels, and the oats will yield fairly,' though some of the cut crops of the latter cereal; are discolored' with: the; late rains. There is more crop grown on the Kakahu Flat this year than last, when the block of land from Winchester and Geraldine back to the hills is included under the above beading. There is a large block of good wheat on the foot of the downs and on the flat from Mr Hay’s property down to the back of Temuka. The wheat crops in. this part of the district should yield from 20 to 25 bushels, and as most of them are just being cut they have not been damaged by the wet weather, A few early wheat crops are being stacked, and some of the wheat yields in this part will reach 35 bushels. The oats will reach the county average, but the few barley

crops are very light. In most cases grass has been sown with barley, a proceeding which is a mistake if a good crop of barley is expected. There is no crop on the downs beyond Hilton, but there is a large quantity of good average -yielding crop -on the downs between Hilton and .Waitohi. Wheat crops predominate in this part of the district. In the Pleasant valley, Waihi Bush, and Scotsburn districts there are a number-of small crops, of oats bjjt very little wheat. Beyond Geraldine, and across the Orari river to the Rangitata, on the west of the railway line, there is Very little crop of any kind. The crops on Rangitata Island this year are up to the average of last year, but the area sown is rather less. Near the; sea, from the Rangitata to the Orari river, there are a few. good crops of both wheat and oats. From Orari, travelling round by the Stumps farm, there is not so much crop met with as in former years, but there are some fair crops of wheat and oats, and a couple of crops of fair yielding barley. A large portion of Mr J. Grigg’s grazing farm has been broken up, and is now under wheat—a very good thing—which being late, fortunately escaped the ravages of the nor’-west winds, and was improved by the rain which fell a month ago. There is a good quantity of heavy crop in the Milford district, from the Winchester arid Teinnka road to the sea. The season was particularly favorable for< this district, and the yields with a few exceptions will exceed those of last year. There is more wheat than oats in this part, and being late (most of it is still uncut) it has ■suffered very little from the wind. There are a few fair crops on Rhodes’ Island,near Temnka. This finishes the tonr of Geraldine county, with the exception of the Mount Cook district, whicn being now a large and important grain growing district in itself, will be treated separately. The following are estimated averages for the Geraldine county, including the Mount Cook district :—Wheat,2s bushels per acre; oats, from 26 to 28 bushels; barley ,25 bushels; and potatoes, 4 tons per acre. A fair quantity of hay was secured before the wet weather set in, and a good deal of grass seed has been stripped. Sales of the latter have been made at 3s 6d per bushel, rather a contrast from the price ruling four-or five months ago.

' MOUNT COOK DISTRICT. The extent of land under crop in the Mount Cook district, and in that portion of the Mount Peel district fronting on the Opihi river, opposite .Fairlie Creek, and not included in the foregoing report, is very, considerable,, and .somewhat in .'excess of last year. The season upon the whole has been rather dry for bat crops, but favorable for wheat, especially the earlier crops, and the yield promises to be satisfactory. It may also be noted that there is a very large extent of land in turnips, and much land has been sown down to grass daring the past season. It is to be regretted, however, that the violent nor’-westers last week did much damage to the earlier crops, especially those oh the more exposed faces of the downs. Fortunately the majority of the crops were not ripe, otherwise the loss would have been very great. Harvest operations did not begin until after the late heavy rain, and the abundant supply of moisture was very acceptable for the grass and turnips. The' woo! clip has been exceptionally good, most of the paddock flocks cutting unusually heavy fleeces. { Before proceeding to comment on the crops in detail, it is right to comment on the utter neglect and indifference to the interest of the coragrowing distriet shown by the Public Works Department. This is the third harvest since the Fairlie Creek line was begun, and yet there seems every prospect of all the grain having again to be carted to the Albury railway station. The contract for completing the cuttings was not let until the beginning of spring, during the winter when there were numbers of men out of employment there was nothing done, and the result is that not only is the completion of the line thrown forward into another season; but the contractor has had great difficulty in getting men, and bands have been rendered all the more scarce for harvesting. The former have truly little to thank the present Government for; and it/is not surprising that an Opposition; member should have been returned for the district.

' The crops, extending up the Opawa valley are very healthy and promising. In that part of the district a good deal of new land has been brought into cultivation during the summer, and there is still much room for the development of agriculture on both sides of the river. The bulk of the cropping land in the district lies along the main road to Burke’s Pass, and stretches away to the northward of Fairlie Creek. Some very nice wheat crops are to be seen between the last named township and Albury, some of them promising over thirty bushels an acre.' In the immediate neighborhood of Fairlie Creek there is a good extent of land under crop, mostly oats. There is also a large extent of oats on the Ashwick flat. On the Baincliff and Allandale downs the crops are for the most part very good, and include a large.proportion of Wheat. Messrs Wilson, of. Allandale, have something like 3000 acres under crop, these gentlemen being the largest grain producers in the district. Much new land is broken up in the district every summer, but several landowners have fallen out of the list of com growers, finding it more profitable to devote their attention to turnips and grass. The want of railway communication has of course a good deal to do with this. This district has great corn-growing capabilities, and there can be no' doubt that when the extension of the railway is completed it will imparl a strong impetus to agricultural enterprise. But there is no use in looking ahead too far, and judging from the progress made in the past the Fairlie Creek railway is a matter chiefly of interest to the next generation. There is a fair supply of bands for harvesting, not withstanding that a large portion of the .crops, owing to the nature of the land, is tied by hand. The wheat will pro bably ran about 28 bushels to the acre, and the oats, ahout ; 35 bushels. The barley crop is unimportant. (The detailed report oh the crops in the Waimate County will appear in our next issue.) '