DRY SPELL CONTINUES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21101, 8 February 1932, Page 8

DRY SPELL CONTINUES.

WORST FOR SEVERAL YEARS* WAIKATO'S PARCHED PADDOCKS. GOOD RAINFALL NEEDED. '] [from our own correspondent.] v HAMILTON, Sunday.* The present summer is tlie driest thafj has been experienced in the Waikato for several years, and there is a distinct shortage of ordinary stock feed. A full day's rainfall would be of the utmost benefit, not only in restoring the pastures, but in refreshing the root crops, maize, millet and other feed that.reach maturity in the early autumn. . The value of ensilage is being appreciated by farmers at the present time, when owing to the parched condition of the paddocks, resort has had to bo made to supplementary fodder to keep up the milk supply. Ensilage, in fact, has proved a great standby. It is being fed out night and morning on many farms. The majority of it was intended for use in tho winter months, but circumstances have compelled farmers to use it now. Dairy farmers are relying on rains in March to give sufficient growth to the pastures to provide feed for the winter. DAIRY OUTPUT REDUCED. EFFECT AT CAMBRIDGE. [FROM OUR OWN' CORRESPONDENT.] CAMBRIDGE, Saturday. Striking evidence of the effect of tha present dry spell in the Cambridge district is to be found in the substantial fall in the milk and cream supply to the Cambridge Dairy Company's main factory at Hautapu. At present the factory is manufacturing 9i tons of cheese a day, compared with 13 tons daily at this time last season, a decrease of 25 per cent. The decrease in butter is 10 per cent, The factory has also had to.dispense with several hands. During the past week there have been light showers, but they have proved of little benefit, being hardly sufficient to penetrate below the surface. In fact, these light falls have done more harm than good, for with the hot days following, a steaming process has been- set up which has only resulted in the pastures being further scorched.

THUNDERSTORM AT OPOTIKI. HEAVY RAIN. ASSISTS CROPS. [BY TELEGRAM.—OWN CORRESPONDENT.] OPOTIKI, Saturday. ,A thunderstorm broke over Opotiki at 2 p.m. to-day. It was accompanied by a good downpour of rain, which will bo welcomed by farmers and will prove of great benefit to the maize crops.