A VERY DRY MONTH.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 59, Issue 121, 4 March 1939, Page 8

A VERY DRY MONTH.

CROPS IN THE ANAMA DISTRICT. ROOTS REQUIRE RAIN. The rainfall recorded at Anama in February was 136 points.. The heaviest fall was on the 6th, when rain fell all day, totalling 120 points. The rest of the month's Tall was made up of morning fogs and a light fffizzle. The amount recorded in February last year was 265 points. The total for the year to date is 210 points, while last year the total over the same period was 881 points. Duiihg the month several light frosts were experienced, also a number of nofth-west gales, which did much to parch up the pastures. Some of the wheat crops were broken down as a result of the heavy wind. Harvesting is in full swing, but a few days will see all safely in stack or threshed, and away to the mills. The local threshing mill is operating in the district, and reports that the wheat yield is not up to expectations. Forty bushels has been threshed, but the average would be thirty or even a little less. The paddocks of wheat most disappointing were the earlv-sown. This was practically Hooded all winter; it never properly recovered and some places were completely diowned out. The last lew days lias made the district along the foot hills look very dry and burnt up. This is not usual. Only on rare occasions does the uppei pail of tin* Anama district suffer to the extent it lias in the last lew days. A Good shower would greafjy benefit the root crops required for wilder feed, while a. good day’s rain would be required to do much good to the old pastures.