PASTURES DRYING UP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19220, 8 January 1926, Page 8

PASTURES DRYING UP.

CONDITIONS IN PROVINCE. ONLY SWAMP AREAS SAFE. CRITICAL POINT REACHED. GOOD SOAKING RAIN ESSENTIAL. An exceptionally wet winter and spring have been followed by an exceptionally dry summer throughout the island, where in the main production depends upon the pastures. The pastures are now very dry, the grass is becoming shrivelled, except on drained swamp country, and a critical point has been reached. Unless a soaking rain- falls within a couple of weeks, at the most, the dairy farmers of the 'province will suffer as seriously as the sheep farmers of Hawke's Bay are now doing. One has only to glance at lawns, public parks and golf courses in Auckland to realise the position of tho farmers in the vicinity of the city, and, while the countryside in general can hardly be described as quite so brown, a serious crisis is at hand. Throughout the Waikato, with the exception of the Hauraki Plains and other swamp areas which usually show particularly good returns in a dry summer, owing, of course, to the dampness of the sub-soil, dairy yields have begun to drop. Crops Needing Moisture. The warm soil would respond in a manner almost miraculous to a good soaking, but should the traditional "producers' luck " of tho province not hold good this summer, the production of dairy herds will rapidly fall, with serious consequences to the rural and city communities alike. Most places had a shower on New Year's Eve, but, although it was heavy in a number of places, the fall was not sufficient to do - lasting good. Bright sunshine and drying winds that followed caused rapid evaporation, and not even a temporary gain was derived in most northern districts. Around Auckland there are potato and tomato, crops which were showing signs of wilting prior to this shower, and a good return has by no means been assured. Rainfall in Past Summers. Iu the past three summers the province has been very fortunate in the rainfall. In October, November and December of last year the Auckland rainfall, which was more or less the general experience, was well over 4in. in each month, tho total for tho quarter being 14.01 in. In 1923 an aggregate of 8.20 in. was distributed fairly evenly over the three months in question, and in 1922 the quarter's rain measured 13.69 in., 'December, with 5.99 in., being the wettest month of the three. In the last three months of 1925, however, the total fall was only 5.27 in. October 2.03 in., November 2.44 in., and December, the most critical period for farmers, .80in. As the average rainfall for December is 2.82 in., the anxieties of the farmers can hardly be exaggerated. Mu«h Depending on Downpour. Heavy rain now would mean tens of thousands of pounds to the producers, and hence to trade and This is not a drought-menaced province, but the harm could be done by a very much shorter period of dryness. Usually tho fanners pull through January,, which has an average rainfall of 2.85 in., -without any serious diminution of the butter-fat yield, particularly when December's rain has maintained the growth of grass. This January has arrived with pastures a good deal drier than usual, and they would probably require a fall of at least half the month's average to revive them, "and generous showers throughout, tho rest of tho month to maintain the growth. Under these circumstances the average business man's, views about the season will not be governed, as often is the case, by the condition of his lawn and flowers and vegetables. A great deal hangs upon the weather of the next few weeks, and the farmer will not bo alone in feeling thankfulness if a good rain 'falls soon. POSITION IN HAWKE'S BAY. RAIN "ON NEW VEAR'S DAY. INDICATIONS OF FURTHER FALL. [BY TELEGRAPH. —OWN COIUIESPONDENT. J NAPIER. Thursday. There is very little change in the situation due to the prolonged dry spell, although matters are no worse, than recently reported. Heavy rain early on New Year's morning and some showers since . have somewhat freshened the pastures. Appearances at present point to a further immediate rainfall, so that there is every reason to hope that the dry spell will soon be definitely at an end.