EFFECTS OF DRY SPELL.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18215, 7 October 1922, Page 8

EFFECTS OF DRY SPELL.

grass NQT retarded. STRAWBERRY PLANTS SUFFER, The dry weather experienced in Auckland during the past three weeks has not had such an adverse effect on pastures as might have been supposed. Visitors from country districts report thiit the growth of grass has not been retarded, but rain is always appreciated at this time of the year, and a copious, fall would be very welcome. At the Bay of Islands on Friday, September 29, at least 3i«. fell in 24 hours, and this week there have beer, heavy showers in the north. For two days the railway line near Kawakawa was under water. It is stated that the absence of soaking rains has had a detrimental effect on the strawbeny beds. , In many places the ground shows dry-weather cracks in the vicinity of the roots of the plants, and the hard-baked nature of the soil under recent weather conditions renders it unworkable. . The effect has been to check the vigorous development of the plants, and will have a bad effect on the crop, the prospects for which point to a substantial reduction in the aggregate output, compared with the average normal supply. Th« berriesi should lie coming into the market in fair quantities at the end of this month. The dry weather has not had a serious effect upon the city's water supply Btcrrage and the authorities have no anxiety about the position. SHOWERS FALL IN AUCKLAND. BAROMETER READING LOWER. The weather in Auckland yesterday was changeable and somewhat boisterous. The wind, which had blown from the north-east for about a' week, changed early in the day to the. north and blew freshly from that direction. The sky was dull and overcast, with heavy clouds drifting from ti.3 north antl threatening nin. A few showers fell at midday and. again in the evening. Showery conditions continued up to a late hour. The barometer, which had been high fv>r some days, registered 30.35 m. at midday on Wednesday. It fell slowly after then and last night registered 30.10 in.