The crop was damaged, particularly along its exposed edge, although it might recover if there was rain.

Festing, studying the sky, saw no hope of this.

The soft blue to the east and the luminous green it melted into, with the harsh red glare of the sinking sun, threatened dry and boisterous weather.

Unless a change came soon, the wheat would be spoiled.
It was obvious that he had sown too large a crop, and the work this implied had overtaxed his strength.

He had felt the strain for some time, and now things were going against him it got worse.