A SEASONAL REVIEW

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 124, 19 February 1938, Page 8 (Supplement)

A SEASONAL REVIEW

Interesting Comparisons

RECENT CONDITIONS (Contributed by Fields Division, Department of Agriculture). Throughout the Southern half of the North Island particularly warm and dry conditions have been experienced since October. Temperatures have been higher on the average by several degrees than last year, and the average rainfall per month was inches below that recorded in other years. In Poverty Bay October was a wet month, with November normal and December very hot and dry. In Hawke’s Bay and the Wairarapa the severity of the dry conditions has been relieved by timely and effective rains, just when the position was . becoming serious. In "West Coast districts, from Wellington to Taranaki, coastal areas have shown the effects of dry conditions, but inland areas have had relief from time to time through effective heavy rains. Taranaki. A very dry October and early November checked grass growth, and at one stage it looked as though there would be little or no hay and silage saved. With good rains early in December, pastures came away with a rush. Weather conditions were excellent for hay-making in late December and January, and generally more hay than silage was made. Both hay and silage crops were light in bottom growth and somewhat stalky. Pasture growth ' has continued to be. satisfactory, despite periods of exceptionally hot and dry weather which, however, have been regularly broken by excellent heavy rains. Crops went in in good conditions, mangolds and carrots are doing well, and many excellent crops of swedes are noted throughout the district.

,■ Wanganui-Rangitikei. From October to the first week in " December the rainfall was very light, and Zlittle surplus growth of grass was availcable. Good rains in December, however, in a late flush of grass. Little "“’silage was made and hay crops have genii erally been light, but saved under excellent conditions. After a good start grain crops were severely checked by lack of out came away well with the rains in December. Most barley, oat and -Vtheat crops were harvested by the end - of January, and heavy yields of grain 1 harvested under dry conditions are re‘"'corded. The conditions for the pea crop ■ were also good, and a striking contrast '" to the experience last season. Potato crops in the Rangitikei and. Ohakune district are growing well. Owing to the ‘ prevalence this season of the green aphis, which is concerned in the spread of virus i diseases from odd diseased plants to surrounding healthy ones, a note of warning is given potato-growers in the Rangi"’’tikei and the Manawatu that home-grown seed too far removed from certified seed is likely to give trouble if planted again next year. It is'in seasons such as this that the virus infection can he carried from a few plants in a crop throughout the area, so that the bulk of the seed for next year’s planting is badly affected. Lucerne crops’ have been outstanding in appearance and yield, and the value of the crop on the lighter, sandy soils has been well demonstrated. Manawatu. This year the annual rainfall is eight inches below the average for the past 2;i years, and it is the first time that the average of each of three consecutive months has been below two inches. In October, November and December, the rainfall for the month was less than two inches. The coastal sandy country has been exceptionally dry, lucerne paddocks alone standing out green and thriv-

ing. Inland the dry spells have been relieved by timely rains. Very little silage baa been and hay crops are generally light and stalky. Lucerpe crops, on the other hand, have given excellent cute, and it is satisfactory to note that the area devoted to this crop is steadily increasing. The area of grass seed entered for certification showed a reduction of some 400 acres, but good rains in December has resulted in the closing of a considerable area for commercial certification. Some excellent yields of perennial ryegrass have been recorded, and the seed quality is a marked improvement on that of last year. Wairarapa.

Hot, dry conditions throughout the late spring and early summer, with only light rains, have resulted in steady pasture growth with no flush, and a more rapid drying-off of pastures on the lighter soils. Subterranean clover, as in other districts, died off early, and in some cases before a great deal of seed was set. Southern Wairarapa has been a good deal drier than the central and northern districts, and here stock have been short of feed. Hawke's Bay. A remarkable feature of the past four months in Hawke’s Bay has been the timely breaking of drought conditions by heavy, soaking rains. The weather generally has been both hot and dry, but pasture growth has been maintained satisfactorily by these periodic wet spells. Conditions have been excellent for grass seed production, and some phenomenal yields have been recorded. From a field of five acres of perennial ryegrass sown with seed from a pedigree paddock, 90 bushels an acre of field-dressed seed was taken. This io estimated to give about 65 bushels of machine-dressed seed. Another area of pedigree perennial ryegrass has given 60 bushels of machine-dressed seed per acre. White clover has also seeded well, and good yields are expected. In the dairying districts of Southern and Northern Hawke’s Bay, good crops of hay and silage have been harvested. Lucerne has made excelelnt growth, and the third crop was being cut on many stands in early January. As in other districts, the baling of hay from the paddock is increasing. This practice makes for easy feeding out. More attention to the making of good quality hay and the proper curing of the material is essential, howover, as baling of indifferently-cured or damp hay can result in considerable losses of material through moulds. The use of the header harvester in the ryegrass seed crops is increasing. Contracts are let for from £2 to £2/10/- an acre for harvesting and threshing the standing crop. The crop is cut with the reaper and binder, the knotter being detached and the crop left in swathes to dry out and ripen off. When ready the header harvester, with a pick-up attachment. takes up the crop cleanly, threshes out the seed and returns the straw to the paddock in windrows, ready to be swept in to be stacked. The best, machines collect and bag also all weed seeds which can be disposed of later. With the experience of th" past few seasons, a satisfactory job is being made with these machines. The area harvested for grass seed is more than 1000 acres in excess of last season. Poverty Bay.

October was a wet month in Poverty Bay, and spring growth was delayed. November was normal, but December was very dry. Maize and pumpkin crops have grown well. The area closed early for grass seed was considerably reduced this season, but later reports indicate that a considerable amount of ryegrass will be cut for commercial certification. The weather has been very favourable to harvesting, which has also been assisted by the fact that there was much less green bottom growth in the areas cut for seed. White clover is also prominent this season, and a fair amount of clover seed is expected.