WEATHER IN FEBRUARY

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30073, 6 March 1963, Page 15

WEATHER IN FEBRUARY

Lincoln College Report

Rains that were heavier than normal during February influenced farming operations considerably, according to the monthly weather report from Lincoln College. The month’s fall was 2.91 in, l.lin above normal.

Sunshine was below average by 14 hours, but temperatures were slightly higher than average. However, on February 26. there was a frost of 84 degrees, the heaviest February frost recorded at Lincoln. The highest temperature was 88.6 degrees, on February 16. The mean maximum

for the month was 72.3 degrees, compared with the station mean of 69.5 degrees. The mean minimum temperature was 51.7 degrees, 2 degrees above the station mean of 49.7 degrees. The average temperature for the month, of 62 degrees, was 2.4 degrees higher than the station mean, but bouts of sunshine, at 175.5, were lower, the mean being 18925. February 26 was the only day of frost, and the grass minimum temperature on this day was 15.1 degrees. The mean earth temperature for the month, measured at Bin, was slightly more than a degree less, at 61 degrees, than for the last three years. The average humidity, at 75.4 per cent., was higher than in any of the last three years. Although the rain held up harvesting from the middle of the month, moot crops were harvested by the end of the month. Yields of latecrop barley were good, and samples very good. Most stubbles had been ploughed, and cultivation for permanent pasture proceeded in ideal ground conditions. Pastures were sown into moist, warm ground and germinated quickly and evenly. PMtures and lucerne made rapid growth after the rains. Hay-making was continued during the fine spells, increasing already ample reserves.