MAY WEATHER

Press, Volume LXXVII, Issue 23349, 7 June 1941, Page 12

MAY WEATHER

MOST SATISFACTORY FOR FARMING From the farming point of view, the weather in May was most satisfactory, ports the Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln. The outstanding features of the month were a lower than normal rainfall and the dry south-west winds following several spells of nor’-westers. The combination of these factors led to a drying of the topsoil and minimised the damage to young pastures and crops due to frost lift. Frosts were recorded on 12 days, but of these the majority were light. Except for a cold two-day snap when snow fell on the Port Hills, the mild weather conditions prevailing in April continued through May. Cultivation for autumn sown crops had continued steadily under excellent conditions, and by the end of the month the drilling of oats and wheat was practically completed. The requests for increased production of cereals and the favourable autumn sowing conditions would undoubtedly lead to a marked increase in the acreages of these crops. The< area in wheat was likely to be the largest for several years. Green feed, early sown crops, and pastures had continued to make steady growth, with the result that the feed position was very sound, and few farmers had started as yet to use winter feed supplies. The lifting of root crops had continued steadily under good working conditions. Crops of mangolds and swedes were rather light. Potato yields were also low, but tubers were sound and clean. All classes of stock were in excellent condition, and taking into consideration the good supplies of green feed and of supplements. they should come through the winter in better condition than they had for some years. Details of observations were (last year's figures in parenthesis):—Mean height of barometer (ins.), 29.909 (29.7251; mean humidity, per cent., mum temperature; deg., 58.4 (53.5); highest maximum temperature, deg., on May 13, 70.5 (65.0); mean minimum temperature. deg., 40.5 (38.4); lowest minimum temperature, deg., on May 31, 27.5 (23.7); mean grass minimum temperature, deg., 31.3 (35.7); lowest grass minimum temperature, deg., on May 31, 20.5 (23.5): mean temperature for month, deg.. 49.5 (45.9): mean range of temperature for month, deg.. 17.9 (15.1); mean earth temperature, 9 inches. 48.7 (44.8): days of frost, 12 (8); rainfall (inches). 2.19 (7.17): rainfall to date. 14.29 (18.11): hours of sunshine, 132.2 (158): mean amount of cloud, 5.6 (6.9): miles of wind, 3758 (4918); mean force of wind, 1.6 (2.8)., ,