THE MONTHS. February.

Otago Witness, Issue 2660, 8 March 1905, Page 10

THE MONTHS. February.

Tliis last month of summer has now closed its record for another year, sustaining its reputation as being the most reliable for favourable weather of any in the twelvemonths. Bright sunny days prevailed, genial, refreshing showers falling in due eeason. There were no scorching, blighting nor'-ea-sters, and from other airts the wind was in moderation, and little damage from that source has been done. — March. — The first month elf outuinn opens brightly, and should its currency prove as favourable in character as that of its predecessor, the hearts of all will rejoice. Crops of all kinds are, from some undiscovered cause, later this year than was expected. The prospects are, however, proving very encouraging, and it is hoped the reaper and binder will lay down a fair return of goodly sheaves clean and heavily laden in the ear. As regards fruit, reports to hand are meagre and variiible. Some write in hopeful strain, otheie in a doleful tone. Insect and fungi pests are not much, complained of, and visits from local inspectors under the Garden and Orchard Act will no doubt lead to their being kept within bounds. Potatoes in garden and small field plots _ are _ looking very healthy, and the earlier varieties are turning out well in yield. Happily, no sign of disease has appeared, in .the- south. Funaoids generally show first in the leaf, travelling down the stem, and are thus easily detected. A close watch should be kept, removing' and! destroying any plant on which anything suspicious appears. I. M. I.