FARMS BENEFIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXX, Issue 305, 27 December 1939, Page 3

FARMS BENEFIT.

DRENCHING RAIN.

BOXING DAY DOWNPOUR.

INTERRUPTION TO TRAITIC,

(By Telegraph.—Press Association.)

CHRISTCHURCH, Tuesdav

Some increase in the yields of grain from Canterbury's farm lands, better root crops and much-improved pastures will be ample compensation for a Boxing l>ay holiday spoiled by heavy rain. The breaking of the long dry spell to-day was welcomed by farmers and gardeners, although not by sportsmen and holidaymakers, and report* from country districts indicate that the rainfall was ae widespread as it was generous. From one to three inches fell throughout Canterbury.

Readily Absorbed. Torrential, at times in some districts, the rain wae heavy enough to have caused serious damage had not the ground, pa relied by weeks of hot, dry weather, readily absorbed the moisture. The chief adverse result of the rain was the interruption to traffic on the main south road through flooding on the approach to the Rakaia overbridge. There was a certain amount of scouring on other country roads, but this wae the only serious trouble resulting from the downpour.

The rain cane a little late to assist cereal crops to the fullest extent in some North Canterbury district*, but in others the value of these erope will be greatly enhanced. Farmers ako report that the rain will make all the difference to young root crops. An immediate improvement in the condition of pastures will be apparent, for there has been little growth in the last few weeks.

'Effect on Killing. The harvesting of wheat will begin shortly in Xorth Canterbury, and the &ame rain a fortnight ago would have meant a far better yield. In other districts, however, where there was a likelihood of the wheat filling badly, there will be better-filled grain and an improved yield to the acre.

Another direction in which the rain will help the farming community is in obviating the necessity of ruehing lamb's to freezing works. Works have been kept open because of the abnormal season, but provision for killing will become lets urgent as the feed situation improves.