TUHIKARAMEA.

Waikato Argus, Volume VIII, Issue 565, 6 February 1900, Page 3

TUHIKARAMEA.

The harvest is about completed, being, with the exception of a few small lots, safely in stack. Seldom, if ever, have the crops been got in in such splendid condition, and it will be a pleasure to handle the stuff during the ensuing autumn and winter, particularly if prices go up, as they are promising to do. The bulk of the grain has been oats, wheat being comparatively neglected, and were it not for the caterpillars some heavy yields would have been obtained. These pests, however, have been pretty general and, as usual, did the most damage in the heaviest portions of the oat crops, the dun variety being particularly susceptible to attack. It has been noticable how promptly the starlings appeared in flocks directly the grain was cut and stocked, the caterpillars disappearing almost as quickly. These useful birds appear to be afraid to work freely in the standing crop, but once it is down they show no fear. Now that the grain is safe, the want of rain is becoming more pressing, pastures being very parched aud dry. Fortunately, the fine Spring produced a good body of vegetation, which—in its dried state—is keeping the stock going well, water being the chief requirement, and most of the farms in this district are fairly welloff for springs. Turnips would be the better for a good downpour, and were it not for the rain we had about a fortnight ago. would be in rather a bad way. In most cases, a good plant has been secured, and if rain come in a few days, fully average crops should result. Potatoes are suffering from the dry spell,- and will, particularly the late planted lots, be comparatively a failure if rain does not full soon, October planted potatoes are now ripening off and yields will be only moderate. Much disappointment has 'been experienced respecting the stagnation in the wheat market; the bulk of last season’s crop being still in growers’ bauds, but prices show no advance, about 2s 2d per bushel in Waikato being the highest figure obtainable. The rise in wool came at a most opportune time, and has resulted in a considerable increase in the returns for most of our settlers. The best price obtained for wool sent out this season is lOjd per lb, for some bales of Shropahires grown by Mr A. B. Wheeler, and sold by the New Zealand Loan and Mercantile Agency, at their second Auckland wool sale. As many of this flock (breeding ewes) clipped 81b of wool, and produced 150 per cent of lambs, threefourths of which have been sold to a local buyer at 8s 6d per head, it must ha admitted a fairly profitable one, and it is questionable if anything in the ordinary line can touch the Shropshires just now, their wool and lambs being in great request, Other lines of fat lambs have also been sent away during the past few days, 7s to 8s per bead being the top prices obtained.

The influenza epidemic is gradually disappearing from the district, and it is to be hoped will make a long round before it calls in again,