IN THE COUNTRY.

Press, Volume LXV, Issue 19675, 19 July 1929, Page 13

IN THE COUNTRY.

J CULTIVATION WORK SUSPENDED. ! The continued burst of wet weather has put a stop to all kinds of cultivation work. The soil has had several saturations during the month, one downpour scarcely getting away before another commenced. Surface water, as a result, is covering many thousands of acres of farm lands. On the lower levels numerous lakelets are to be seen wherever there is a depression. Except for the holding up of team and tractor work, the visitation will not do much harm, unless, of course, it should cause floods. These are not improbable if a speedy improvement does not set in, as creeks are running full and the subsoil cannot take much more moisture. Wheat-growing. Fortunately for wheat-growers the autumn and early winter were ideal for cultivation work, and farmers were well ahead with their sowing when the weather broke some weeks ago. It is improbable that many farmers will be l>adly ''caught" by the present break, although doubtless most wheat-growers have a proportion of their programme to complete. Plough work for barley and peas, which are spring crops, will be held up, particularly as the bulk of these is raised on heavy land, which, naturally, is most affected by the prevailing conditions. The autumn-sown wheat now above the ground should receive a big impetus when the turn of the season comes, particularly the crops on the lighter land, which as a rule can do with all the moisture they can get. Effect on Stock. The weather so far is unlikely to have done harm to stock. There is a fair amount of feed abou# of one kind and another, and with the stocks of oats in stack throughout the province a most valuable reserve is available if wanted. At the price oats are fetching in the market the farmer does not need to rack his brains much as to the economy of this practice. A few early lambs have appeared, and where farmers have arranged to supply the early spring market losses may occur, but in such cases care is generally taken that shelter is available. It will be another six week* before lambing will be general. Reports from the high country recently were to the effect that the season was advancing satisfactorily. ■ The earlier snows had brought sheep down below the snow line, and as the stock have been doing well a burst such as the present, unless it is unduly prolonged and accompanied by successive snowfalls, should not affect them seriously. The danger period on the high country is in October, when lambing is general. However, the country has had all the rain it wants for some time, and all classes of the rural community would like some sunshine.