FOR SOAKING RAIN

Evening Post, Volume CIX, Issue 81, 5 April 1930, Page 10

FOR SOAKING RAIN

WIDESPREAD DROUGHT

FAILING PASTURES

The present spell of dry weather is very general over the whole Dominiou. Bain has.fallen fairly frequently during the last few weeks over Southern Otago and Southland, the deficiency in the rainfall in thoso districts not being very large. Everywhere else, however, conditions have been extremely dry for some time, most stations during March recording a rainfall 70 or 80 per cent, below normal. A few places havo had the driest March on record, and many; others have had a smaller March rainfall on only two or three previous occasions. One of the driest areas has been around Blenheim. Spring Creek, near Blenheim, had only six points of rain during the month. Upper Moutere, which lies between Nelson and 'Motucka, had no rain at all in March. The last very dry autunm was in 1911, when central districts suffered from a deficient rainfall. In the North in that year, however, it was fairly wet. Auckland this year had only 24 points of rain in" March, which is 92 per cent, below the average. Taihape could only produce 14 points, 95 per eoiit. below normal, and other places are in much the same, plight. Wellington, with its 41 points of rain during the month, has been comparatively W ol7 r.W

December and January were, generally speaking, wet months, so that the dry spell, which really dates from the beginning of February, followed conditions favourable to vegetation. Tlie comparative absence of rain, therefore, has not been as serious as it might have been, especially as temperatures have been on the cool side. For harvesting and for the ripening of fruit the dry weather has been very Jjenefieial, and practically all that could be desired. But other agricultural operations now need rain badly. Boot crops and pastures require a good soaking to relieve the position and to give- tbe fast withering pastures a now lease of life. Prospects of winter feed are not at present at all bright, and rain must come soon if the position is riot going to develop seriously. Milk production is alroady markedly falling off in the driest areas,' and the future is regarded with some concern by farmers. Early frosts in. some places have not helped, having injured reserves of maize. Lucerne is the only type of feed showing green now. Farmers who have obtained a good stand of lucerne are congratulating themselves on their forethought, but even this valuable feed cannot last for ever, and will be eaten bare if rain does not come soon.

_ All whose interests lie in the direction of agriculture are agreed that what is needed in the immediate future is a good soaking rain, an inch or more in one fall; light showers will not now do much good. Those concerned with municipal water supplies and hydroelectric undertakings would welcome any rain. . ■