COMMERCIAL.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVIII, Issue 2746, 26 February 1910, Page 2

COMMERCIAL.

THE CROP RETURNS

[Pick Press Association.]

Wellington Feb. 25

I'll© amended crop returns were published in last night’s Gazette. Instead of wheat averaging 34 bushels it is considered now that 30 bushels will be the approximate yield. The oats yield is reduced from 45 to 38 bushels per acre, and barley from 37 to 35 bushels. The grain crops in most districts have ripened with extreme rapidity, and the bulk is now in stook or stack, while a large quantity is already threshed. The yields are, in general, very disappointing, considering the early promise of an unusually abundant harvest. The hot winds in December not only caused premature ripening, but also, injured much of the straw, so that the rain in the beginning of January did not benefit tbe crops nearly as much as was hoped. Caterpillars did damage ill several districts, and the small birds levied their usual toll._ The Hessian fly appeared in several localities, but it was not serious. The continued absence of rain in Southland is calculated to have diminished the yield of oats by 15 yier cent, and in Central Otago, from the same cause, the crops are a failure. Ou the other hand there are, in all the principal districts, many excellent crops. The wet weather at the end of January caused a little loss in yield, and the discoloration of the grain and seeds is much less than was feared. There is, however, a large proportion of small ami shrivelled grain. The yield shave now to be set down at a much lower estimate than those formed from the appearance of the crops at the date® of the December and January reparts. Threshing is not sufficiently advanced to on able the actual yields to lie computed, but the present estimate may be confidently expected to be realised. Tim rains in January were of incalculable benefit to the pastures and fodder and root crops, and the prospects fo • autumn and winter feed are highly .satisfactory. Oats sown for winter and spring feeding have made good progress. The potato disease has re appeared, but oniy in the earlier districts is the damage so far of much magnitude. The vanous pests and diseases of the turnip have not yet manifested themselves to any alarming extent, but in some localities rape has been badly blighted.