THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

Otago Witness, Issue 2730, 11 July 1906, Page 6

THE WEATHER AND THE CROPS.

This is a familiar heading in the farm columns of newspapers the world over, but the full relation between the one and the other is very imperfectly understood. The Rev. D. G." Bates, New Zealand Government) meteorologist, at the Agricultural Conference a year ago, threw a great dejl of light on the subject ia a most int-s-iesting paper, which has been published' as a bulletin by the Department of Agriculture, and which will repay perusal by every farmer. The monthly meteorologicl reports published in the Xew Zealand Gazette, and reprinted in the Witness, also were vciy interesting, showing the relat'on beiw'een. the weather conditions which ?i<kl prevailed and the progress of the principal crops of the farm in various districts. Farmers and many others were thereby led to observe the weather and its effects for themselves, a study in which there was great possibilities. For some months past, however, these reports have been confined to the bare record of temperature, rainfall, etc., without the notes which were beginning to be so .attractive to farmers. The reason for the omission is not explained, but it certainly is not any lack of enthusiasm on the part of Mr Bates. Possibly, if it is made known to the- authorities that the notes were of value and interest, their publication may bo resumed). The importance of meteorology is becoming more and more widely recbgni&ed. Even in Australia, where science generally receives scant consideration from ths powers that be, the establishment of a Federal Meteorological station has just been decided upon. Hitherto, weather observations have been almost exclusively nautical, such _ important theoiies as cycles of seasons, which relate to the land, being denied facilities of examination or test. In future, land as well as &ea, and earth as well as air, will come undtr observation, and characteristics of the almost unexplored Australian weather will be made known. The disjunction of meteorology from astronomy will enable $ac importance to be attached to the former science. Astronomy is useful, but excepting in details it can be studied as well at Greenwich or in Germany or America as in Australia, wherens meteorology must be studif-d on. ihe spot, co to speak. E\en the conditions which govern the weather in Australia do not prevail in New Zealand ; therefore, there is need in this colony for independent observations and study, and this should tie recognised by our Government and the information which is gained by '.the circumscribed r.i^teoiological service be madia fully available.