COLD AND DAMP JUNE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22777, 10 July 1937, Page 13

COLD AND DAMP JUNE

FARM WORK DIFFICULT • LITTLE ' GROWTH OF PASTURE [by telegraph—press association] WELLINGTON. Friday Reporting on tlnf. weather during June, the Government Meteorologist, Dr. fKidson, says that the month was very cold and, in spite of the fact that over much 'of' the country the rainfall was below normal, it ..was, also a damp One in most districts. Except in places especially exposed to the southerlies or south - easterlies, which prevailed throughout most-.of the month, winds were not strong. There was, consequently, littlO'drying and the soil was almost everywhere saturated with moisture. - . "Work on the land- has been difficult," proceeds the report, "and a smaller area than usual has been sown in wheat; ' After the first few days growth of pasture practically ceased and the older material has deteriorated. Hand feeding has been resorted to to a. considerable extent, but so far-there is no shortage of food. Stock are, on the whole, doing well, with the excep- ■ tion of hoggets, for which it has been a poor season.. The milk yield has fallen away rapidly. Vegetation in general does' not appear to have suffered and in many places flowering plants have done rather well. ' "Rainfall was much above normal in tlie Auckland and Coroinandel Peninsulas.—Parts of North Auckland had double the average. The average was slightly exceeded also at most places in the eastern districts, of the North Island from East Cape to Capo Palliser. In the South Island, the only part to have more than the average were an area round the Canterbury-Marl-borough' border and a strip along the south coast of Otago. There were large deficits in most of Marlborough, Nelson, Westland, the interior of South Cantorburv and, Otago, and in the'interior of the' North Island. On the west coast in the southern interior of the South Island it was a particularly fine month with few wet days. "Temperatures' weje everywhere below normal, the departures ranging mainly between one ami three degrees. There were inanv severe frosts, especially in the interior of the South Island. Snow, though not especially deep, extends to, ratlier low levels on the ranges." '