THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Waikato Times, Volume XVI, Issue 1334, 18 January 1881, Page 3

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

The present season has been acknowledged on all handy to be totally unlike anything hitherto experienced in Waikato since its settlement by Europeans. For the past month there has been nothing 'out a suecesson of showeis Move rain has undoubtedly fallen in the same period in previous years, in the year of the great flood, which cairied away the Cambridge bridge for example, but never before have ■we had such a continuance of wet. The results are various, but on the whole perhaps satisfactory. There has been an abundance of feed all over the district, which is in strong contrast to the sero and burnt up appeal anee of the fieldb usual in the month of January. Thpn again the season has been an exceptionally favomable one for all sorts of root crops, testimony to which will be borne by the nuinoruus line crops of potatoes in the Te Awamutu, Pateraugi, Ohaupo, Hautapu, and other districts, no less than by the thriving appearance of the laigo extent of turnips which have this year been sown down. In tho absence of any destructive high winds, grain hat) albo thriven remarkably well. At Pukerimu there are beveral very promising crops of wheat, while the numcious fields of oats which we have seen comprise some of the fitiest which have been grown in Waikato. Per contra, the hay crop has suffered materially. In many instances where expedition was used, this ctop has been successfully got in, but it is to be feared that the bulk of the rest will be found to bo of very little value. Fortunately we are not now co dependent upon hay as formerly, in so far as regards the wintering of stock at any rato. Farmeis are becoming moie alive to the necessity of grow m» roots, and of saving their straw, much of which latter used commonly to go to waste. Still there will be a debit side to the farmer's ledger this year. Stock, as may be inferred, arc in good condition, those we have seen on tlic estate of Messrs Martyn, for instance, which will be offered for sale to-morrow, especially so. In other 1 espeots, as regards the general public, the season h.is been a very trying one, the hot intervals being veiy oppressive. The question is begmumg to be asked, the more anxiously as harvest approaches, when is the lam going to .stop ? C4ood ciops of wheat and oats will be of little account if theic be no line weather in which to gainer them. Ram cannot last leu c\ci, and although the weathci still continues to be bioken, theie can be little doubt that a genial luu vest-tide will succeed.