BAIN DAMAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 10 November 1936, Page 2

BAIN DAMAGE

ENGLISH CROPS ItUINEI)

LONDON, November 5. Although the weather improved dur-

ing the early part of the harvest season, it was too late to offset the disastrous effects of a wet summer. It is estimated that the wheat yields .will he lfewt. an acre below those of 1935, which means that Britain will, lose a year’s food supply for ' -more: than 1,000,000 peQple, representing a drop in the income of the farming community of no less than £1,500,000. -The oats crop has also suffered, and yields ! will be lower by over lcwt. an acre, or a total loss of grain worth" £500,000. Imports of Empire-grown wheat and oats may be expected to rise by equivalent amounts. , J The .chief damage done by the • weather was the ruin of the hay crop. Grass, which is England’s most important. crop, actually grew ■ well, in the wet season, but the hay hardest was literally swamped. Many thbus-1 ands of acres rotted in the fields, un- 1 til the hay was unfit even for cattle bedding. Second cuts have been satis- ( factory, but nothing can compensate for the loss of the main crop. Again, i this will mean good prices for import- J ed Canadian hay. !

An important effect of the weather has been to focus the farmer’s attention on the new process for the arti-. ficiil drying of grass. This makes him I independent of the weather, and the many demonstrations which are now j being held throughout the grass-grow-ing districts of England are well attended.