WELCOME RAIN

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22247, 23 October 1935, Page 23

WELCOME RAIN

♦ VICTORIA'S WHEAT AREAS ALL ANXIETY DISPELLED Anxiety concerning the wheat harvest in many districts of northern Victoria, which had been threatened by hot northerly winds and duststorms, was dispelled on October 10, when heavy rain fell throughout the State, and made conditions for crops and pastures practically ideal. It is many years since such a favourable season has been experienced. Victoria is green from boundary to boundary. There was a general fall in the Maliee of about half an inch. Trinita and Mittyack West headed the list with 70 points. There was lighter rain —up to 40 points—throughout most of the Western district, but there were heavy falls in Central and North Central, where registrations at many centres exceeded an inch. Conditions in the southern dairying districts of the State are excellent, and the rain was not needed there particularly, but it has practically assured farmers in the Mallee of a good harvest, and has consolidated the position in the Wimmera, the northern country, and the north-east. It is estimated that the area of wheat sown in Victoria this year is 2,400,000 acres, and there is p. growing opinion that the harvest will reach 40,000,000 bushels. Conditions could hardly be better, and with normal weather until the harvest there will be bumper yields.