Lincoln Benefits From April Rain

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31676, 11 May 1968, Page 18

Lincoln Benefits From April Rain

Because of good drainage most of the Lincoln area will probably have benefited from the heavy rain, of last month, says a summary of meteorological observations nude at Lincoln College.

Animal health does not appear to have suffered as yet, probably because of good health after excellent summer weather.

The waterlogging from the heavy storms early in the month probably drowned many pests in the soil. More damage was done in the horticultural world, says the summary. Fruit trees suffered damage by being

blown over and fruit waa lost on late varieties.

Trees in general suffered badly and shelter belts and specimen ornamental trees were drastically thinned. The late crop of raspberries, which promised to be good, was destroyed completely. Slight frosts after the big storm, which occurred from April 9 to 12, cut down all susceptible crops but tomatoes continued to ripen as the frosts were not severe enough to damage the fruit. The storm’s heavy rainfall brought saturation to all soils and the drop in soil temperatures brought cultivation to a bait This had the effect of holding up cultivations for winter wheat, which might be detrimental to plantings on the heavier land If there Is no dry spell soon. The total rainfall for the month amounted to 8.03 in in 20 days. This was a new record and the fifth highest monthly rainfall - ever recorded fit Lincoln over a

similar period. Sunshine totals were 35 per cent below avenge. Only 93.3 houn of sunshine was recorded compared with the avenge of 143.1 houn. Thia was the lowest in April since 1938 and was the second lowest sunshine total ever recorded at Uncoln. The month’s maximum temperature of 82 degrees Fahrenheit occurred on April

No air frost was recorded in the month. The lowest tempenture was 33.2 degrees Fahrenheit on April 18. There were four slight ground frosts.

High Flight—Mr B. J. Rhodes, a 27-year-old Air New Zealand flight planning officer, established a New Zealand altitude record for singleengined aircraft on Wednesday. In a Cessna, over Ardmore Aerodrome, he reached 23,869.—(P.A.).