PARCHED FARM LANDS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVIII, Issue 14644, 1 April 1911, Page 8

PARCHED FARM LANDS.

* DROUGHT IN THE WAIKATQ, ~, FARMERS SELLING STOCK. [B7 TELEGEAPH.-OW:N COBBEBPOKDENT.2 Hamilton, Friday. . ; The continued dry weather is steadily diminishing the chance of a good autumn , growth, which is now the only hope for -,s a supply of winter feed. As might be ,| expected in an autumn drought extending through .March, considerable loss baa taken place through the damage done to ,f;, r fl9 grass and clover seeds sown on bush ~ ;.< burns, and which, through a brief shower -//: : g|§| or two, ' have germinated, f only ■ to" bo //[/ ; : .f||||| withered up by succeeding heat. However, it is not yet too late for .a recovery 't-* in pastures, and with good rains reported - . in the South, a change may reasonably be t ,J expected in local conditions. . ' *-> As a natural result of the dry season /-,' the c'airy industry has received a severe blow, the supply of milk and butter-fai - •«S going through the creameries being so small that an early closing of many of them seems inevitable. As it is, they ar« . - being run at a los:i to the dairy company, . ■ Ji while the suppliers have to go through a , ';i;;,.|||| large herd to get a few gallons of milk. To make matters , worse,'': insect': pests, ■ ■. ■■ : : -':|||p in the form of crickets, "have become very numerous in the pastures, thereby reduc- " ||| ing any green herbage available. The stock markets have been very active of JS late, large numbers coming into the mar- ...^ ket. Fat stock are in heavy supply, and , ,''; an easier tone is observable. The pres- ■ (« sure of circumstances is leading farmers, ' and graziers to clear out all surplus " f stock before their condition goes off. Consequently, a ( glut is now taking place in I a class of stock that will be almost un-< -'Ifi| obtainable, in a few months' time. Store 'stock are easier, with the exception of dairy heifers in call;,, which are ißfilliag , well. In the case of pigs, many farmers are killing their young stock for homo ■ 1 consumption, as there is practically no market for tfeem. /, —. '. ■■..,,. fy^s\ PHENOMENAL DRYNESS. ' TELEGRAPH. —PRESS ASSOCIATION'.] ' ;.,"/ ;i jj||j ■■. .'j '" I _ Wellington. Friday. The dry weather continues. A littla , - ' over a-quarter of an inch of rain fell during the month ending to-day, as ; com- , pared with over seven and a-half inchei > in the previous month. RAIN? IN THE SOUTH. ' ' [bt TBLE^aAI'H.—PKESS ASSOCIATION.] -}\l ,1 Christchurch, Friday. . mM Misty, rain, with an occasional thicK drizzle, has! been falling since four p.m., ■' > yesterday, j The moisture is freshening ,'.•] vegetation, jbut is a mere drop compared ''''.' with the bucketful required by the cow*. - '( || try. i j 111 J .-■■ . - Gore, Friday. r ||9 ■ Rain, fell! for a short while last even* ■ ',M ing at Gorl and Mat aura. It is raining : V •<< this morning, and is likely to continue, ' . //J