DRY SPELL IN CANTERBURY

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 17 May 1930, Page 6

DRY SPELL IN CANTERBURY

SERIOUS EFFECT ON PASTURES SHORTAGE OF WINTER FEED (By Telegraph—Special to “The Mai]’’) CHRISTCHURCH, This Day. Though it Ims ct>me too late to be of any material benefit to'pastures and winter feed crops, the present fall of rain will help cultivation considerably. ' Reports from country, districts indicate that the fall, though light, was fairly general throughout the province. Prior to the rain the prolonged spell of dry Weather had hardened the ground to such an extent that the task of preparing it for drilling was a problem. In . fact in most cases, it was necessary . . first to skim plough it before putting in the deep plough, thereby entailing double the amount, of work. For those who intend putting in wheat the rain has come at a most opportune time as the first of the crops in Canterbury’ are usually sown during May. The outlook for winter feed, however, is just as serious ns ever, unless of course, a period of warm weather fol* lows the rain. At this time of the year a fall in temperature is expected, accompanied by frosts and generally cold conditions which bring growth practically to a standstill.