SUN-PARCHED PLAINS.

Taranaki Daily News, 13 January 1921, Page 5

SUN-PARCHED PLAINS.

DRY SgELL IN CANTERBURY, CROPS PROMISING WEDL. Christchurch, Jan. 10. Tlie Canterbury Plains are a great study in brown grass and the crops assumed the color of khaki. Even the distant hills harmonise in the drab color scheme. _The only patches of green seen by the traveler on the main line are provided by the plantations and the bush on far-away slopes. , The plains have an inflammable appearance. A carelessly-thrown match or a vagrant spark might start a fire which would sweep a wide area. Blackened fields and a scorched plantation bes Bankside and Dunsandel are a grim reminder of the fire of a week ago. Beside the railway line much P re re-“-tionary burning has been done. The dry grass and gorse have been burned off carefully and scientifically so that the risk of another fire rushing over the countryside lias been minimised. No rain has fallen since Boxing Day. A few good showers would be welcomed bv the farmers and their effect would be highly beneficial. Oat crops are being quickly harvested and wheat is ripening rapidly. There are some splendid wheat crops waiting for the reaper and biuder, and harvesting should be in full swing very soon. Now and again on light fir shingly land thin crops may be obse**ed, but on the wliTile farmers are confident that this year’s wheat will thrash out wall