The Hawera Star. FRIDAY, OCTOBER, 23, 1925. THE SEASON.

Hawera Star, Volume XLV, 23 October 1925, Page 4

The Hawera Star.

FRIDAY, OCTOBER, 23, 1925. THE SEASON.

Delivered every evening by 5 o’clock in Hawera, Manaia, Normanby, Okaiawa, Eltham, Mangatoki, Kaponga, Alton, Hurleyville, Patea, Waverley, Mokoia, Whakamara, Oliangai, Meremere, Fraser Road, t and Ararata.

♦ The manner in which pastures in all parts of South Taranaki have responded to the present warm, “growthy” weather, means much to the dairying industry and those engaged in it. With the high prices ruling for produce this year, especially for cheese, farmers hud been looking forward to a more profitable season than is often their lot; and those in the. unfortunate position of being loaded with high ingoing prices began to see the future a little brighter. Then Winter refused to yield place to Spring, and dairymen found themselves with their cows coming to milk, emergency feed fast disappearing, and no sign of seasonal growth on the padidocks. Those, who had been poorly off as regards root crops, ensilage or. hay were particularly concerned, for their, herds had not come through the off-season in the best of condition. In the circumstances it was not surprising that both yields of milk and tests- should suffer; but the prospect of the advantage of the market being completely over-ridden by the unfavourable season was not encouraging. There is the more reason, therefore, for. thankfulness that grass is; now coming away in such abundance that some factories have already drawn level with their 1924 intakes, while all are confident of making up the lost ground if the present warm conditions continue. What has happened is that we have almost skipped Spring and that, while we were still lamenting the prolongation of Winter’s stay with us, Summer came. It is perhaps too early yet to hope that there will not be further spells of broken weather; but the year is bound to grow warmer from this on, and grass; that'

lias made so strong a start will not

easily be checked in its growth. Probably the pastures will be the better) for the delay in springing, and, while cows in poorer condition' may not make their best showing ini butter-fat, there appears every reason, now to hope for a season at least up to the average and possibly —if we have a good back end —above it.