UNUSUALLY DRY SEASON

Press, Volume XCI, Issue 27641, 23 April 1955, Page 5

UNUSUALLY DRY SEASON

RAINS EARLIER GAVE RELIEF

Canterbury has had one of the driest seasons on record, but rains in December and February relieved the position, according to the March survey of the Christchurch office of the Department of Agriculture. Conditions are still dry throughout Canterbury, the report says, but the feed position is satisfactory, and stock are doing well. The wheat, oats, and barley harvest is now completed, and ground preparations for next season’s wheat and autumn sown oat crops are well in hand. Green feed sowings are establishing well and making good initial growth, the report says. Canterbury potato crops are maturing with naulms drying off. Late blight is reported from Mid-Canter-bury, and though little harvesting has been done yet; yields generally are expected to be lower than last season.

Harvesting of pea crops is well advanced throughout Canterbury. Yields have been fair in most parts. Increased acreages for the quick freeze industry are expected next season. The grass seed harvest is completed. Later yields of white clover have been only fair, and in North Canterbury Case Bearer moth damage was severe. Good yields of red clover are being obtained in Canterbury, but Marlborough samples contain a high percentage of brown seed and are not up to the usual standard. In Marlborough subterranean closer stands have reestablished well.

Hay Position Better In Canterbury, further cuts of lucerne hay were obtained in March. New stands have established well. Seed yields, though variable, have in the main, been good. The hay position has improved from late cuts of lucerne, but stocks, generally, are below normal.

Root and winter green forage crops have made satisfactory progress though there has been more than usual damage by diamond black moth, aphids, and white butterfly. Ground and aerial treatment with B.H.C. products (Lindane) appear to have proved the most successful treatment. Results with D.D.T. appear to have been variable.

Good pasture growth has been made in most districts, but there has been a tendency to slackened growth in Canterbury owing to continued dry weather and colder night temperatures. Good growth has continued in Westland and in northern districts. Since indications of porina and grass grub infestations have appeared in Canterbury and as the supply position in regards D.D.T.-super is acute, farmers have either had to arrange for commercial mixing of D.D.T. with fertiliser, or have applied the D.D.T. themselves. New pastures have established very welL