BENEFIT EXPECTED

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22027, 6 February 1935, Page 12

BENEFIT EXPECTED

HELP TO MARKET GARDENS

FALL DF 100 TONS AN ACRE OUTLOOK FOR PRODUCTION Few people realise the weight of water represented in even an inch of rainfall. Over 100 tons of water an acre fell in Auckland and in those districts where an inch of rain was registered on Monday night, and it is inconceivable that this huge quantity will fail to prove beneficial. In flower and vegetable gardens, plants which have just managed to hang on to life, aided by Constant watering, will thrive and blossom in tho warm soil, now thoroughly moistened. If a few dull days free from drying winds follow, growing conditions will be ideal. Perhaps those who will benefit most of all from the inch or more of rain which foil in Auckland on Monday night, will be the market gardeners, who will now doubtless be busy stirring tho surfaces of their gardens to conserve every drop for the use of thirsty plants. Because of the warmth of the soil, quick and succulent growth should follow where cultivation has been thorough, and this should be reflected in the quality of the vegetables available.

Conditions in Waikato In the Waikato the soaking, which, at least, the surface soil of the peat land has received, will materially slow up the advance of the fires. Farmers, and their unfortunate herds, which have been short of green food and, in some cases, of water also, will hardly benefit to any great extent from the brief downpour. Rain at this season, unless it is followed by dull growing weather for some time, is not likely to do the farmer any permanent good. On most grazing areas at present the surface soil is covered with grass seeds, which have ripened and been shed during the summer. Under existing conditions this seed will now germinate, and should a recurrence of hot weather or drying winds prevail during the coming month most of the young growth will bo killed and tho advantage of the seeding lost to tho farmer. On the other hand, conditions favouring the establishment of young growth would make this autumn the most productive for grassland products that the district has experienced for many years. Dairy cows, which are now falling ott in their production, would respond to the new growth with a second "flush, and it would be difficult to estimato the revenue return to the district. End of Water Shortage At least the farmer can draw comfort from the replenishment of his tanks and other water supplies, and in the districts covered by the downpour there need be little further fear of water shortage. This was a definite threat until Monday night. ' Pastures which have dried off during the long spell of hot weather will probably not respond with new growth to any considerable extent until the Boil is thoroughly saturated, but their recovery can undoubtedly be_ hastened and new growth stimulated if farmers take tho present opportunity of surfaceharrowing their paddocks while the sou is moist and tractable.