BACKWARD SEASON

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18254, 24 November 1933, Page 9

BACKWARD SEASON

GISBORNE CROPS SUFFEk - ■: ; SECOND PLANTINGS MADE POOR LAMB PICKINGS Spring and. early summer this yeai have provided One ot tne'most backward seasons experienced in the Gisborne district for a long time. Crops are late. Sonic were planted late, as a result of the continued cold winds, but this did not save them. In many cases, seed rutted in the ground, and two and even three plantings had to be made, borne uf the other crops that did germinate reasonably well were so yellow and withered that they have been disced in and lepianted. Toe more fortunate, or the more hardy, are-a week to a fortnight later than in a normal season. Aiso. lamb packings' have been particularly poor. These circumstances have developed in what promised to be a very early season. The winter was mild, so much so in fact that the hill country remained green right through to the spring. August was a warm month, culminating in a week of bright, hot sunshine more in keeping with October or November conditions. It was ideal growing weather, and pastures made splendid progress. / POOR HAY CROPS ■'Since then, however, there has been a succession of cold, damp weeks. The total rainfall has not been great, but it was spread over so long a period that the ground was damp and cold at a time when crops were planted. The giowtli in the pastures wr.s ’backward, and every farming operation has suffered to some degree. Dairymen are the only farmers who have not suffered to any extent so far. Their butterfat deliveries to the factories are still increasing, for the herds are in good condition, and there is sufficient leed to carry on the milking cows in the heavy production period. However, there is not the same flush of grass as in normal seasons, and hay and ensilage crops will be substantially lighter in most cases than they have been for some years. Gardeners, both amateur and commercial, have suffered as much as the farmers in many instances. A very heavy late frost cut down many of the early tomato plants, thousands of which had to be replanted. Early potato crops also suffered severely. Seeds showed very poor germination, particularly . pumpkin, melon and cucumber; many of these rotted in the ground, and second and even third plantings had to be made. RYE GRASS SEED Maize growers are among the farmers most severely affected. Most of the plantings were later than usual, in view of the backward nature of the season. A late frost caught some of the crops, which were left yellow and withered. Also, the cold winds that have been experienced recently caught others as the plants came above the ground, and some of them have shown such poor progress and such a sickly appearance that they have been disced in and resown. Some of the resowing operations are now in progress. jWhiirly in the season, it appeared as ttflpugh the area planted in maize in the district this season would approximate that of last year, but as a result of the failure of Several of the crops and the heavy cist of resowing, it is possible that laud intended for maize growing might be turned over to some other purpose. Therefore, it is yet impossible to say bow the area in maize this year will compare with that of last season Rye grass seed crops are later than usual. The area shut up for certification in the district is less than half that of last season, and the retarded growth might help to still further reduce the crops. In recent seasons, threshing Isas been under way before Christmas, but judging by the state of the crops in the district at present it is doubtful whether threshing will commence before the new year this season. DRY CONDITIONS Lamb fattening conditions have been the poorest for a very long time. Arrangements were made by many farmers to cater for the early lamb market. Several on the flats were successful in catching the Tamaroa shipment with approximately 9000 lambs, and these are due at Smithfield in time for the preChristmas trade, but after these killings at the end of October a fortnight's cessation of killings was deemed necessary by the Kaiti works management because insufficient lambs were in view. Hookings at the works are good, but pickers have been able to secure only very small drafts of lambs, which are lighter than •usual for the time of the year. As a result, Gisborne farmers have not ncen able to take as great an advantage of the satisfactory buying rates, which are a substantial improvement on those at the start of last season. Had there been larger supplies the prices might not have been so satisfactory. Shearers also experienced a setback

this seasori. They have had a better run during the past three, weeks than durthe early part of the operations, but / this has not been sufficient to make up for lost time. A further setback was experienced this week. Conditions still continue to be cold and bleak. Yesterday’s cold wind would cause a further setback to lambs and to crops. There has been little ruin during the month, and dairy farmers would be glad of a good downpour, although sheep men are not anxious for rain for several weeks. Sheep require harder feed than what they have been enjoying this season to help them ou their fattening stage