DRY WEATHER

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22954, 4 February 1938, Page 10

DRY WEATHER

WATER FOR GARDENS FRUIT AND VEGETABLES LARGE SUPPLY AVAILABLE . V Although last month's rainfall in Auckland, 3.75 in., was considerably above the average for January, the fact that it was concentrated within a few days, on one of which 2.32 in. fell, lessened very considerably the benefit to market gardeners and city, gardenowners. Following a December fall of only 1.47 in., which also was confined to a few days, these conditions have made an uliusually dry midsummer period. In the Auckland City Council's parks almost continuous wavering has been required to keep lawns green and flower-beds in full bloom. In fact, it is estimated that more water lias been consumed for the purpose than for many summers past. Happily, the good supply available in the reservoirs has allowed the park staffs to make free, though not wasteful, use of hoses and sprinklers. In the railway station garden, sprays running constantly during the day time are a pleasant sight to passers-by. Private garden watering helps to keep the daily demand at » high level. The dry weather has not lessened the supply of vegetables at the markets; indeed, larger quantities than usual have been received. However, growers complain that pests of various kinds have given them much trouble. Tlio conditions suit tomatoes particularly well. Crops are said t6 be abundant, and market prices this week were so low as scarcely to cover the cosfof production. Fruil growers are suffering heavy losses from brown rot, which has been encouraged by occasional days of high humidity. Another result of the hot weather and very intermittent rain has been to bring on the later varieties of peaches, plums and nectarines almost simultaneously with the earlier kinds. This interferes with the normal course of supply, and has had some effect on prices.