A WET SEASON

Evening Post, Volume XCV, Issue 45, 21 February 1918, Page 11

A WET SEASON

IN THE WAIRARAPA

WHEAT CROPS A FAILURE

-A' GENERAL REVIEW.

(IT OUR BPEC.II REPORTER.)

"MASTERTONi, This Day.

■ Over and over again, it lias been, asserted that New Zealand weather can never be relied upon. There are portions o£ 'the world where the people canrestj assured that one fine day will follow another ; that the summer season this year will be almost exactly the eamb as it was last year ; that harvesting operations will commence at the same date this season as last, in the Dominion it is almost invariably the reverse. The winter may be dry and the summer wet, and in either season it may bt> hot or very cold. In reviewing tho season experienced in the Wairarapa, exactly two years ago, The Post saJS-:—"Bush and grass fires are everywhere. Never before has 'tho. grass, or rather the dx-ied-up remains of what was once green grass, burnt so readily. From the railway train there wa6 no green, to te seen—all brown, brown, brown. ... Everything lias been ,eaten off the hille, which give~"the appearance ot having "been close shaven." Be' much for the summer of 1916. The summer of 1918 stands out in decided contrast. It has been wet—one of the wettest on record. " Tho rainfall in the aggregate—that is, measured by inches— hae not been very muck above the average, but- there have been many more rainy days than usual. Thie hae had a good and a bad effect; it depends upon the direction irj, which the farmer's interests He- For one thing, there has been an abundant growth of feed, sufficient to gladden: the heart of the grazier, but the agriculturist has,'on the other bond, suffered badly. It is doubtful if there will ever be a season capable of satisfying everybody. WHEAT GROWERS LOSE HEAVILY Since the war farmers throughout New ■ Zealand have been urged by tho Government to grow more" wheat in order that New Zealand might be in a position to satisfy its own requirements instead of falling on tho world's markets. The Wairarapa has never been regarded as a favourable wheat-growing area; nevertheless, tho official request was by no means unheeded. But the result was such that, tho district's reputation is by no means enhanced. The continued rain and subsequent humid weather conditions proved extremely disastrous to pretty well all the crops. A great many of the props are very badly rusted, and the grain is so poor that it will barely pay for harvesting. Very few crops of milling wheat are to be found anywhere in the district, and even with these, the yields are not up to expectations. It is to, be regretted that such ill-fortune should attend the operations of a farmer who, at considerable financial risk, grows wheat, not because he wants to, bnt because the Government asks him to bs patriotic. It is yet to bo discovered whether the cry of patriotism will induce that farmer to grow wheat again next year. A promise of compensation for out-of-pocket expenses might have a. more beneficial result. PROTRACTED OAT HARVEST. The oa!t harvest is described as one of the most protracted on record. It is related as a strange fact that many fields were Teady for the binder while others were scarcely starting to head. In a few instances the crops are still in stpok. The very early crops received a good deal of rain while in stook, but fortunately the weather" was cool, and the harm "done was not great. The middle section of the crop was badly damaged by the weather, which proved so disastrous' to the wheat. The late crops were, in the main, harvested well, and should show the heaviest yield. Tho area sown in oats this year was shorter than usual, and farmers are reported to be holding for higher prices. However, it is the opinion of sbine merchants that the market will ease as the stacks become fit for marketing. SEED-RAISING A GROWING INDUSTRY. On a previous occasion it was predicted in The Post that the production of seed would 1 become an increasingly important branch of farming activities in the Wairarapa. Subsequent events have proved that the statement was correct. The area shut up on seed this year was .probably the largest on record, and some great yields were expected. A few of the farmers were very successful, but, with a great many, iho second growth delayed harvesting, and continued vre'o Weather did not improve sample^ Itwill he seen how all-important the weather is to a farmer, and" how difficult it would be to have a season which would be ideal for fivery branch of -this York. The Wairarapa is expected to product! a large quantity of indifferent rye-grass seed. The clover crops are looking well, and it is generally expected that the yields will be good. From all accounts it h plain that tho seed industry in tho Wairarapa is 'becoming very important, and, what is more to tho point, the quality of seed produced is said to ibe equal to the best obtainable • anywhere in the Dominion. ROOT CROPS, HAY, AND PESTS. On the whole the root crops have done fairly well, the weather being for the most part much in their favour. Various blights have, however, left their mark, and in one case at least it is reported that the woolly aphis, or something very much, like it, has attacked a crop of turnips. Potatoes, too, have been considerably affected, and in some instances in a peculiar way. When dug they have had all tho appearance of sound, wholesome potatoes, but when stored away ia sacks they have rottod quickly. Somo disease is sußpected. A small insect resembling a, caterpillar has recently paid considerable attention to marrows, pumpkins, and the like. Evidently, the wet, muggy weather is idealfor pests, and had it not been for a three-weekG 1 spell of really dry, hot conditions the general result would have been disastrous for the district. Well, perhaps disastrous is not quite the word, for many money-making devices of the farmers are, to a large extent, blightproof, or very nearly so.. All fruit trees have been more or le3S affected by blight, and generally the small,gardener, as well as the man in a bigger way, has had a lively time with pests. Naturally it has "been one of the worst hay-making seasons on record, and some farmers have had their crops entirely ruined. On the other hand, there are others who are obtaining a second cut, so great has been the growth. As there is every likelihood. that some farmers yvill have to hold move stock over winter this year than nsual, an extra, supply o£ winter feed will not go amiss. With the superabundance of feed available stock have .done very well, although the quantity of fats put through, has scarcely been up to the average. Continual moisture has, of course, made the grass rather soft, but recent ■weather has hardened it up somewhat. The lengthy season has had its advantages, for it has played into ihe hands of the freezing companies, who have suffered from a shortage of labour, and for other reasons. Lambs have been "no good," being rather light, while sheep have been woll up lo average weight and cattle showing good condition ail round. Owing to war conditions nobody •is specialising in lambs thesa times. " The stock markets are firm, though tho

prices ruling this year dvb not ar. high as last. From the point of view of the dairymen the season has been most favourable, although some dairy farmers have -complained that the test has not been so high as usual. However, lack of quality has been balanced by the quantity of milk produced. Recent rains should 'keep feed going, and so prolong the season.