CEREAL CROPS

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18353, 17 September 1921, Page 10

CEREAL CROPS

OUTLOOK IN CANTERBURY. RAIN URGENTLY NEEDED. (From Our Own Correspondent.) CHRISTCHURCH, September 16. The continued dry spell is causing a little concern amongst the farmers. Cereal crops generally at present are looking well, having been sown early enough to receive the benefit of the good downpour last month, but the fall was insufficient to give the subsoil the soaking it required to carry on through the lute spring and early summer. Last year, m late September, a heavy deluge of rain washed out a good deal of recently sown wheat, but a similar visitation this year would not do the damage which was then occasioned, as the wheat generally is much earlier. A further advance into spring without rain will be attended by considerable risk., It would be a. great pity in more ways than one if the exceptional wheat area sown this year should be affected by a poor yield, as farmers are inclined to include wheat to a greater extent in their farm system than in late years, and a low yield might operate against ’ that desirable intention being put into effect in the future. The subsoil at present has no reserve of moisture to help the crops along in the early summer, when rain, even should it fall, generally comes in “lumps,” and does not confer the benefit of the better distributed spring showers. It is claimed by observers that our climatic extremes have a disagreeable habit following the Old Country. If this is the case the prospect is not reassuring. Rain in the back country is much below tho average of past winters, and snow is also in less quantity. This is reflected in the very low state of the rivers, a number of the smaller ones having no water running in them at present, a rather unusual occurrence so early in the season on this Coast. The rainfall recorded is also- lighter. In Christchurch for the eight and a-nalf months of the year to September 16 the rainfall was 16.73 inches, compared with 19.27 inches for the corresponding period of last year. South of the Rangitata is where tjja worst effects of the dry spell are being experienced, the subsoil in some centres not having been wet since last voar. A good downpour is urgently needed in the southern part of the province to help on cereal growth ._ The mild winter has allowed both sheep and cattle to come through well, besides which there has been .a plentitude of turnips. These are now about done, and as there is little spring growth pasture will be very scarce in another month or so if rain docs not soon set in. The soil is in a state to respond to generous rain, and so far there is not much cause for apprehension. but the country wants moisture.