HARVEST OPERATIONS.

Wairarapa Daily Times, Volume 6, Issue 1610, 15 February 1884, Page 2

HARVEST OPERATIONS.

(BY OUR SPECIAL REPORTER,) Opposite the Akura Block, Mr E, Chamberlain has over a hundred acres of crops, viz., 70 acres of wheat, 22 of oats, and 22 barley. The latter is pronounced by competent judges to be the best barley crop yet seen in this district; in fact, it would almost be impossible to excel it, Areturn of 50 bushels to the acre is confidently looked forward to from it. The wheat will yield an average of 30 bushels, and the oats 40 bushels to the acre. Mr Chamberlain uses one of Wood's twine binders, which works splendidly, There are several of this maker's machines in the district, but the ownei'3 have evidently not sufficient knowledge of them to get the amount of work out of them that Mr Chamberlain does. Messrs G. Chamberlain and Liddington have a 30 acre crop of wheat that is not at all favorable, docks and other rubbish forming a great proportion of the sheaves. There is a2O acre patch, though, that will pass muster among some of the best in the immediate locality. In oats (about 50 acres) they been more successful, and have a very fair crop, being both clean and well headed. The work is !«eing done with a twine binder, and a sweep-jack side deliverer, both of which go through their work well.

At Mr Hessey's homestead, a portion of 50 acres of wheat is in stook 19 acres of oats aro stacked, and part of 8 acres of peas aro also stacked, these .crops have come along splendidly, the oats in particular which are exceptionally heavy.

There are several smaller crops on the Upper Plain, Messrs .Meredith, Osborne, and Dagg being the largest growers,. • The latter gentleman has one of Hornsby's " Paragon" reaper and mower combined, which has proved itself a most valuable. machine, lowering the 35 acres of wheat as neatly and regular as one of much higher pretensions. Mr Dagg's average will be about 25 bushels to the acre, the grain being of excellent quality. The cereals at Manaia have turned out well, and in some cases exceptionally heavy crops are'to be met with. There aro numerous small patches to be met with ranging from about two to 10 acres,

Mr T. Chamberlain has threshed a portion of his 50 acres of wheat from the stook the remainder, though cut, not being fit for the operation.'' This will return about 25 bushels, and the oats (12 acres) about 30 bushels to the acre.

Mr Montgomery's 40 acres (25 wheat and 15 oats) has been cub by Mr Percy, who has one of Deering's Twine Binders. The crop is fairly heavy with a clean healthy appearance, being well headed and good length of straw.

Mr Carman's 40 acres of wheat • is rather light, but he has a magnificent crop of Barley (26 acres), and oats (40 acres), which- have the appearance of making up for the shortcoming of the wheat, returns, . Mr R, Cookbura's crop of 26 acres of wheat and oats look very well, and should turn out some some good quality grain, if appearances can be taken for anything, Messrs Johnston Bros, are the largest growers at the Makara having. 52-Acres of wheat.' One paddock has been threshed from which 33j bushels to the acre was obtained., In some parts of the crop the straw has reached, the extraordinary length of sfb 6in, the heads being well developed throughout The remainder of the crops. can be briefly summarised, they have all turned out very woll, and as in some cases the owners' expectations have been surpassed it ought to be satisfactory to all concerned.

Mr E, Johnston's 1U acres of oats and 2|,wheat, average, after being threshed, 45 and 27 bushels respectively. Maori crop, 20 acres of wheat and 3 acres of oats, will average about 27 bushels, Mr Billington's 25 acres of wheat and 18 acres of oats is a fair crop, and will yield well.. Mr Jone3' 12 acres of oats is a passable crop. Mr Woodroofo, about 25 acres wheat, threshed, averaged about 25 bushels. Mr McLeunon, 14 acres of oats and 9 acres of wheat is a capital crop with well filled heads and good length of straw, . (To be continued,)