IN NEED OF RAIN

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22510, 13 December 1947, Page 8

IN NEED OF RAIN

CROPS AND GRASSES MILK RETURNS DROP AGRICULTURAL REVIEW Hill country pastures have been drying out rather quickly over the past month and at the present time there is no surplus feed, states a review of current farming operations supplied by the fields instructors of the Department of Agriculture, Gisborne. Farmers have been rather anxious to get their lambs to the works before it ! got too dry. On the Gisborne flats the 'feed has held out in better order, but |is rather too dry now to support good milk production figures. Dairy farmers ! who have insured against this type of weather by having lucerne available arc I reaping the benefit. Following is an agricultural review:— Maize. —Approximately the same acreage is under maize as last year. The early-sown crops are looking well, but the later-sown areas are looking slightly stunted on account of insufficient moisture. In some areas cutworm damage has been severe, in fact., the worst it has been for a number of years. There also has been some damage caused by wire worm this season. Some of the areas were re-planted as late as December 10 and, with favourable conditions, these should come to maturity and crop out satisfactorily. Peas.—The acreage is markedly increased this year, particularly in the Waikohu and East Coast districts. Here aagin the earlier sown crops on the Gisborne fiats and East Coast are looking well, more especially those on the flats. Later sown crops on the Coast have not the vigour and ample showers of rain are required before some of these crops will yield even 20 bushels,, The later sown crops on the Gisborne fiats will yield slightly less this year than the earlier sown crops due to the dryingout conditions and the peas coming into flower before reaching any height. Most of the pea crops are quite clean. The main weeds showing up now are wild turnip, fathen and Prince of Wales feather. Barley.—More barley has been sown this year than normally and there are some excellent crops in the district. The crops are very clean. Dry weather has caused some to go into head at rather a low height, but this will not have a great reducing effect on the yield. Cape and Chevallier varieties have been mostly planted. Potatoes. —Larger areas have been planted this season and on the average they are three weeks to a month later than previous years. This was on account of the land being too wet at the beginning of the season. The varieties planted have been in the main Arran Banner, Epicure, Katahdin, Sabago, with a little Inverness Favourite. The crops have been remarkably free from disease. Black leg and Corticiurn have been responsible for most of the disease noted. Yields have been good. Beans.— There has been an increase in the area sown and the crops are looking well. Canadian Wonder is probably the most widely sown. On the average the crops are much cleaner than last year. Pumpkins. —This later sown crop has felt the effects of the dry weather. Ryegress.—Six hundred and fifty acres of perennial ryegrass have been entered for certification. It was noticeable that most of the areas were closed up too latd and will not produce the bulk of seed had they been closed up two weeks earlier. This is due to an almost rainless November. The crops ■ are very variable, a few being excellent and many poor. Two crops dressed 1 with sulphate of ammonia are going to yield very heavily. * White Clover. —So far the season has • been a good one for white clover and in many cases the clover is dominating . the ryegrass. The certified areas are looking exceptionally well.