NOTES BY THE WAY

Press, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22135, 3 July 1937, Page 11

NOTES BY THE WAY

HIGH COUNTRY SNOWS

The winter is developing perturbingly in the high country. Glimpses obtained of the ranges show that they are coated well down with snow, and reports indicate that their appearance is not deceptive. One experienced station owner in the Amuri expressed the opinion on Wednesday that he had not seen so much snow on the ranges at the end of June since 1918. the year of the disastrous fall early in July. Two other back country men to whom "Straggler" spoke expressed similar opinions. The falls commenced earlier this year, and the continuance of frosts prevented a thaw setting in before the succeeding fall. Some of the later falls have been very heavy, and now there is a depth of frozen snow that is unlikely to disappear until the spring arrives. A good deal o£ snow raking has been necessary. Frosts are continuing to be severe and generally it would seem that this year is to be the break in the cycle of good seasons. A very rough spell has been experienced in the Mackenzie Country, with record frosts. At Burke's Pass on Sunday 40deg. were registered and at Tekapo 36deg. These readings are the heaviest for many years, and as there has been a heavy snowfall the next few weeks in the Mackenzie Country are likely to be very severe on stock. The high country in the central part of the province has escaped much more lightly so far although there is a deep fall in the Lees Valley. Anything like a serious ewe or lamb loss this year would be very unfortunate in view of the exceptionally high value of stock. Replacement would be costly, if not impossible.

THE WHEAT SOWING

According to a survey made of the wheat area for statistical purposes, the wet weather is having a very depressing effect on sowing operations. In South Canterbury it is confrom the estimates secured sidered irom ui<- nhnll t 5 per r w e n la S y S-Can^rbu a ry a particuK in the Methven district, where he weTther has rendered much ground unfit for sowing. However, the SSmt of seed by farmers g actually greater than it as at ua SK St, y Xuld nd thf e weather3 estimates being up to 40 Per cent the heavv land here being attccieci more by the weather conditions than most other parts. In the Darfield ESrictSnd towards Hororata the earlier promise has not tained, but there is a lot of ground turned over awaiting a favourable urn in the weather. This is also the case in other districts where backward sowing conditions . prevail. North of the Waimakann to the Waipara district the general tendency is towards a lower acreage, except in a few districts such as West Eyreton. North of the Waipara figures show very little change., whilst in the Marlborough province the prospects are for a slightly smaller area. The hopeful feature throughout most of the province is that there is a good deal of seed wheat held by farmers. Frankly, the prospects of an increased spring sowing are not bright. Already the Auckland critics of the wheat duties are commencing to foam at the mouth over the "wheat incubus" and the evidence of a "deliberate" reduction in acreage, and it behoves farmers to do their best in the difficult circumstances prevailing to confound them.