WEATHER IN THE SOUTH.

Manawatu Times, Volume LXIV, Issue 285, 10 December 1907, Page 2

WEATHER IN THE SOUTH.

Press Association.

Dunedin, December 7. The long continued spell of dry weather is beginning to cause anxiety to farmers and agriculturists, and it is felt that unless there is abundant rain within the next week the prospects of even an average harvest will be small. The extreme heat of the last few days has had a damaging effect on the crops and grass alike, both of which are beginning to look parched and wilted. In nearly every case the crops, although in many instances now in full ear, are extremely short for the season of the year, and quite lack that appearance of vigorous growth which usually characterises grain in the early part of December. Bain, even at this late period, would have a beneficial effect, and give quite a change to the outlook, which is now very discouraging. The grass is beginnnig to fail rapidly under the present weather conditions. The growth during the last few weeks has been almost imperceptible. The shortage of feed is most severely felt by holders of lines of lambs intended for freezing. It is feared that unless there is rain soon the result wi&be that large numbers of lambs in an unfreezing condition will be forced on the market, causing a glut and a serious fall in prices.