MANY RUINED CROPS

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LV, Issue 17146, 31 December 1929, Page 10

MANY RUINED CROPS

BAY OF PLENTY FARMING It is many years since Bay of Plenty farmers have had such difficulty in [cultivating land for cropping purposes owing to the abnormally wet spring. Last month was a record rainfall, while the beginning of the present month has also-been very unsettled. Usually farmers have the land prepared in October, ready to plant maize, but this season' those who managed to plant have, had the crop spoilt by late frost; in many cases the maize is only just up. Indications point |o the fact that there, will be an unusually small yield throughout the Bay of Plenty, as the wet conditions have been general in the Bay. • There has been a wonderful growth of grass, and farmers.have great difficulty ill getting enough stock to cope with the abnormal growth. The result has been that on the flats more than the usual acreage has been shut up for hay. ■ Those who took the chance of the weather improving have in most cases had the.crop ruined, as it is im-r possible to get the hay to dry> The potato crops have also suffered heavilv, most crops being attacked by blight Before the tubers were ready to dig. ' . During the last fortnight the weather has been cold for this time of the year.