APRIL HAD MOST SUN SINCE 1906

Press, Volume C, Issue 29504, 4 May 1961, Page 17

APRIL HAD MOST SUN SINCE 1906

Mild sunny conditions existed for most of the month, producing 195 hr 12min of sunshine, the highest for April since 1906 when 203 hr 50m in was recorded, says the monthly meteorological report from Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln. Although the mean temperature for the month was average as the result of a few low minimum temperatures, the general result appeared to be one at warmth because of several very high maximum temperatures. The highest temperature for the month was on April 16 when 84.5 degrees was recorded. This was several degrees higher than the usual maximum for the month, but was not a record. In April. 1955. 84.9 degrees was recorded. The rainfall for the month was below average. 1.29 inches falling on eight days. There were eight days of frost, the lowest temperature being 27.8 degrees on April 3. The rainfall at the end of the month was .30 inches lower than last year at 9.02 inches. It was the lowest April rainfall for several years. The main humidity for the month was also less than last year’s 84.5 per cent at 83.5 per cent. The mild sunny conditions, although not bringing about a recovery of pasture, did arrest what appeared last month to be the start of an

early winter, _ Some lucerne was taken for seed on the warm days, and harvesting of potatoes proceeded throughout. Potato crops dug to date on the drier land have returned good yields and samples; on some wetter soil types yields have been disappointing. Cultivation and general farm maintenance programmes have proceeded unhindered. Stock health has been good, although in some cases lambs have not thrived as well as expected. Opportunity has been afforded the home gardeners to complete autumn plantings, early winter digging and general pre-winter tidying up.