THE DRY SPELL

Stratford Evening Post, Issue 83, 6 February 1928, Page 5

THE DRY SPELL

IN THE KES'tt COUNTRY. i PASTURES STILL DOING WELL. TE KUITI, Feb. 4. With the eception oL' a heavy downpour, accompanied by hail, on Saturday, January 14, there has been an entire absence of rain in the district. The total fall for the month, as recorded at the Bank of New Zealand gauge, wa s 1.16 in., which marks the driest January experienced here tor seven years. It has also bee n the hottest, the temperature in the shade on Monday lafct being 83 degrees. The effect of the dry spell is now being felt, especially as far a s dairy farmers are concerned, cream returns in the past (fortnight having shown a drop of more than seasonable moment. The pastures throughout the territory, however, have shown a remarkable resistance to the continuous heat. Moreover, a drought ijs always beneficial to the King Country, as it enables settlers to carry out burning operations which cannot be done under ordinary season conditions owing to the freshness of the luxuriant undegrowth due to abundant moisture in the soil. The hot rays of the sun are oj great benefit to the soil, having a sweetening influence.