RAINLESS BENEFITS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19857, 30 January 1928, Page 6

RAINLESS BENEFITS.

GOOD DONE TO THE LANB. PROLIFIC AUTUMN EXPECTED. CLEARING SECONDARY GROWTH. HOLIDAY AND TOURIST WEATHER So much has been said of the deleterions effects of the rain famine in the Auckland district that few have paid any regard to the actual good it has done, and continues to do, to the arable and pastoral land in the heart of the province. In meditation upon the temporary slow-ing-up of the milk yield and shorterfigure butter-fat cheques, there is, too, a tendency to forget the physical benfits ' which months of blua skies have conferred upon the out-of-doors loving populace of the city, suburbs and rnral settlements. Gains have been made in health which increased production could not buy, but it is expected that even the restricted yield -rom the land will be compensated for in the autumn, when the country, aerated and sweetened by long exposure to the sun, will nourish an abnormal pasture growth of rare palatibility. While of later years the use of the plough to lay land fallow to the natoul , treatment of sunlight and air has been largely superseeded by top-dressing, no true agriculturist is unmindful of the fact that a "sun bath," even on the unturned sward, acts as a sweetening medium, correcting sourness and laying the foundation for a rich, pure growth when rain falls. Temporarily, the milk yield on dairy farms is restricted, but sheep farmers, almost to a man, regard the situation with equanimity. Counterbalance in Autumn. Their stock are "holding on well" to condition and even if there is some loss through the retardation of rape crops and late fattening of la nbs thereby, it is ex. pec ted that rejuvenated pastures in the autumn and winter will very largely counterbalance any immediate complexities. Many Hauraki Plains farmers regard the rainless period as a very thinly-dis-guisod blessing lor, knowing the conntry, | they are mindful of the fact that the openI ing up of the earth due to cracking will have a beneficial effect on sub-soil drain- | age. If the winter is kindly, it is expected that the plains will "come into their own" audi exhibit the marvellous productive powers always latent there and so readily exercised when suitable weather follows a period Ifke the present. One Waikato resident prominently identified" with the dairying industry takes a broadly-optimistic but none the less practical view of the soil benefits which will follow the temporary baking of the Auckland countryside. Waikato soils, more or less soured in many cases by a succession of wet seasons, cannot but be sweetened by the drying-out process, with its attendant) aeration of the earth. A burst of pasture growth he expects will follow the autumn rains, providing abundant winter grass drawing its nutriment from sweetened land. Grass Seeding and Burning. In striking contrast to the parched countryside of the North, the upper Rangitikei district, between Marton and Taihape, appears to be little affected by the dry spell. Travellers by the daylight limited express remark on the green pasture in that vicinity. While some of the hill country is just beginning to showsigns of the drought, the valleys retail) plenty of green feed. As viewed from the train white clover appears to predominate. v Cocksfoot harvesting is in full swing in the Rangitikei district, and good cheques are expected from the collection of the seed.. Most of ihe side roads in the vicinity of Taihape show excellent crops, a fact which has been noted and exploited by many individuals during past seasons. One enterprising Aucldander left for the> South last week to harvest the cocksfoot on the railway lands and roadside in the ncinity of Utiku. He expects to procure enough seed to sow his 40 acres of gum land, with sufficient over to pay expenses and leave something for manure. In what is often termed " dirty" country—land which has in varying degrees reverted to secondary growth—splendid burns have cleaned up wide areas which lay ready to reassume a grees cloak when again moistened. In such cases a fresh start and carefully controlled grazing will materially increase production in the long run Ensilage and other forms of concentrated fodder are helping out the more hard pressed of the dairy farmers in a season which is serving as an object lesson in the conservation of adventitious supplies against a sustained dry speiL Lucerne and paspalum positively thrive under ruling conditions, and great areas of paspalum pastures far north and south are providing solid sustenance for all classes of stock. * Recreational • Benefits. People expert in the topic generally hold the view that the latter benefits of a generous " baking " of the land are a quite effective counterpoise to a temporary Slowing up of production, although this, together with domestic inconveniences like > the curtailment of the water supply and the withering of the family vegetable plot and flower garden, loom most largely in current conversation. No lament against a seemingly endless cbain of delightful days has been uttered by the school children enjoying the long vacation. The youth of the city, bronzed by many health-giving hours on the beaches, and the adult population, holiday-making or engaging in summer sport, have reaped the benefit which in their case is immediate —in the case of I the land, deferred —but in both certain. Tourist traffic to ib<a big fishing grounds and superb scenic coastal regions of the Far North has assumed record proportions. It is another weigai; in the scales against the passing trials of the dairyfarmer and the market gardener.