ANAMA DISTRICT

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 19, 2 November 1938, Page 6

ANAMA DISTRICT

THE WEATHER AND FARMING. EFFECT OF THE WET WINTER. CROPS SOMEWHAT BACKWARD. The rainfall recorded at “Laggan,” Anamn, during October was 209 points. The amount for the same month last year was 108 points. The. total for this year to date is 3831 points, while over the same period last year 2574 points were registered. This year’s fall, nearly 13 inches more than the previous year, is the heaviest for that period yet recorded, except in 1925’, (when; 3961 points fell. There were a number of frosts during the month, also a series of north-west winds, but no heavy gales to cause serious damage.

Lambing is almost completed. For the most part very good weather was experienced, hut as far as can be ascertained the percentage will not he above the average. While on some farms there are a good number of twin lambs, there are also a fair number of dry ewes, which, of course, reduces the percentage over the whole flock. Feed is short, hut with the recent showers it should soon grow, especially if there is a fair amount of sunshine. •

Advantage of the good weather has been taken by some farmers to shear the dry sheep. Although this is not general, a good number have been shorn.

Crops, especially wheat, .appear somewhat backward after the wet winter, and some appear.patchy, due, no doubt, to water lying too long in low places. Other crops were sown rather late, but if suitable weather should prevail' no doubt they will improve and failyields may he expected. The cream supply has kept up. The lorry visiting the district three times weekly.' Feed is not sufficient for the dairy farms, cows requiring a much longer bite of grass than sheep to maintain a good supply of milk.