NELSON NEWS

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 148, 26 June 1933, Page 11

NELSON NEWS

THE WINTER PROSPECTS

FODDER IN DEMAND

(Special to the "Evening Post.") NELSON,' June' 24 '

During the past few weeks the Waimea: district has experienced; a sue-: cession of very severe frosts. As a rule the lower slopes of tho Richmond' Hills' are practically immune from frost, but each morning recently these' have been covered with a mantle of white plainly visible from a distance of several miles. In this locality early potatoes are already being round-hoeij, .while green peas are coming into, flower. However, growers state that so far the damage has been only: slight. Under the-extremely dry conditions at present prevailing, the, frost does . not, seriously affect.. growing crops, but should a shower of i'ain intervene then serious loss would result. ■ ' . . • : ■ ' ; ■

Naturally the cold■■ weather is. having the usual effect on the dairy stock of. the district, and in 1 the majority of cases milking operations have practically ceased. . The cheese factory at Appleby has closed down for the season, while at Bright water butter-mak-ing, operations are considerably curtailed. It is fortunate indeed that owing to the favourable spring and' summer abundant supplies of hay and' ensilage were harvested. At that time it was considered that there would be an. over-supply and that the demand for hay -would be practically negligible. Hbwever, farmers are not now so confident. Stock will have to bo fed for at least three more- months, and tho' consumption of fodder in that' time will be very great.. To make matters worse/ turnip crops are light, so that by the time the winter, is over it is not likely that much hay will be carried over for next season. .-' . ■ i

Today's play in the ladies' basketball games resulted:—Thistlo 6, Rivals 4; Convent 16, Tahuna B 4; Epbins 8, Tahuna A 4;,Y.M.C.A. 9, Albion 4; Kiwi 8, Waratahs- 7. . .

The severe winter conditions and resultant scarcity of food is having an effect on bird life on1 the .Waimea Plain. Many miles of hawthorn hedges have been cut down over the last two years as a precautionary . measure against the spread ;of fireblight should it appear, and so the hawthorn berries, on which blackbirds -arid thrushes have relied largely in the past, are not available. "It is -probable that these'birds, attracted by the food and ■■.shelter, to. be found in the. apple lands of the'Moutere .Hills', have , left the plain:; Whatever the cause, it is a fact that-they are not.nearly so plentiful in the Wai-' tneas as they formerly were. , ,