THE DROUGHT.

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LV, Issue 5651, 26 January 1932, Page 2

THE DROUGHT.

SERIOUS EFFECTS OF DRY WEATHER. The effects of the drought on Banks Peninsula are now .being severely fell and dairymen especially are suffering as their herds are shpwing a big shrinkage in milk yield. It was ir th-e middle of 'October last that ther< was any rainfall of any account, wher an inch was recorded in two days rainfall. iSince then there has beer practically no rain. The cheese factory suppliers show a large shrinkage. Whereas 'in ordinary years in December the Barry's Bay Factory found it difficult to cope with the milk received in four .vats, this year they only required three and with the continued dry weather are now down to two vats. Even with good rains from now on the dairy herds will not be able to make up the leeway they have lost, even though the milking continues well into M'ay. EFFECT OUST COICIKSPOiOT. The effect upon the cocksfoot paddocks has been particularly serious and the paddocks are only yielding half the normal amount of seed owing to the dry weather and stunted growth. The seed, however, is yielding well, and from reports to hand is of a good colour "nd fairiy heavy sample. GRAZING PAiDDO/OKS. Farmers are finding it difficult to carry on owing to the shortage of' feed in grazing paddociks. Lambs are •being got away as soon as possible and weights are fit least ten pounds lighter than the average last year. What is required is a heavy rain lasting several days "to give the ground a good soaking. This would produce a prodigious growth and would give the relief farmers want for their stock.