THE HARVEST.

Waikato Times, Volume XXIV, Issue 1961, 31 January 1885, Page 2

THE HARVEST.

Harvkstin'c; operations arc now fanly comnienced in the U.i'iibt idpe, T.unahere, and Pukeiimti distncU. The wheat ciop w exceedingly small tins yeat. The area being only about a thud of that of last harvest. The veiy low pi ice which this staple ia bringing in the outside market, or •it least which it realised last year effectually damped tbcaidour of tho farmers in this line and has turned their attention into other channels. Wh.it crop-, there are to Ihj seen are good ; but it is nevertheless believed that wheat will be still lower in pi ice the coming season. One of the new channels to which farmers are turning to is the growing of oats for chaff, for which the Auckland m.irket affords a great demand Chiff this been bunging £1 a ton, and Canterbury fanners have been whaling the the benefit very largely. Judging from the unusually large area in oat*, Waikato farmers have evidently made up their minds to crush out the Canterbury supply, but to succeed in this they inu->t bo content with a material reduction and be satisfied with about £15 10S or peihaps £3 7h Gd. The potato ciop, we regiet to oay, may be considered a failute. Tliero are very good looking crop.-, in tho district, but in many place* the growth has been so wretchedly poor, that t.uim'is are about to plough up the ground and lay it down in winter feed. •Some people attubtite the failure to cut Heed and an unu-iiwlly wet spung. In places where the potatoes have been sown whole, the crops could not look better. The early turnips are looking exceedingly well everywhere, but owing to the long spell of dry weather, the late ones present anything but an encouraging appearance. The heavy rain of the past few day* will doubtless impart new vigour, and do all that is lequiredto make this crop afaucceb". The I'iis m the hay ciop was not .sohe.ny as some people made believe. No doubt a few individuals lost heavily, but geuei ally -»|»o>vkmg thoru luvi lx.cv \oiy little to complain of.