THE PAST YEAR'S RAINFALL.

Taranaki Herald, Volume XL, Issue 8971, 2 January 1891, Page 2

THE PAST YEAR'S RAINFALL.

The year which has just ended has been, with respect to seasons, about the opposite of the previons twelve months. Tte year 1889 was d istinguislied during tho months of spring and early summer by an unusual absence of rain and a consequent scarcity of green pastures, and by an abundance h f disastrous bush fires, which began in November and ended in March. Since April last the year has been distinguished by abundance of rain, coupled with a mild temperature. Abundant pasturage has been? the result, and the extra feed afforded to stock at a cheap rate has more than compensated the district for the heavy losses sustained by bush fires. This has been the result to the district as a whole, though, no doubt, there has been great individual loss, which abundance of grass at*a subsequent part of the year has failed to 1 remedy. 'While the season has-been the most favorable for many years past for those industries, which depend for their profit on an abundant pasture, it cannot be slid that it has been favorable for fruit. Fruit requires in spring a much higher average temperature than grass, in order to set the young fruit and carry it past the critical stage of its existence. Fine sunny days are also required when the trees are in bloom to complete the fertilisation. Continued rain and cold nights are disastrous foes to the fruit grower, which no care on his part can overcome. Owing, therefore, to abundance of rain and the absence of sunshine, the fruit crop this season is a very light, one. Only the early hardy varieties have made any show, .and the result in the orchard generally is'very disappointing.. The rainfall in this district for the year has been 92 inches. The fall for tlie years 1885-6-7-8 and 9 was 63, 95, 75, 73, and 70 inches', respectively. The past year has, however, been most distinguished for the heavy fall of rain which took place during the last three months, viz., October, November, and December. The rainfall totalled 32 inches during those months, while in 1889, for the same period, only 15 inches fell, and the average of four years previously only equalled 17 inches. This may indicate good summerand autumn feed, coupled with bad bush bums; but so unce tain is the rainfall that this indication may be quite reversed by a dry period during January and February. Eight weeks of dry weather operating on our porous soil, coupled with strong winds, will be^quite sufficient to entirely change the aspect of affairs, and produce dangerous bush fires and bare pastures. The condition of stock on most farms in consequence of a favorable season is so good that even a prolonged dry season will not easily injure* them during the warm summer months, though it would materially int rfere with the production of. cheese and butter. In contrast with our good fortune the accounts of drought and bush fires in the Canterbury district shows the superiority of Taranaki as an all round good grazing district. The progress of settlement may be comparatively slow, but it is steady, and of a permanent character. The heavy bush takes time and money to be converted into productive farms. The output of butter, cheese, and fat stock, for which other districts receive^ the credit, if totalled up 'annually would astonish the colony, and perhaps induce the Government to pay more attention to the acquirement of native lands and opening them up for settlement by roads and bridges. There is a grand future before this district, unequalled by any part in the colony for pasturage purposes, the result of a heavy and well-distributed rainfall. If this tact is kept steadily in view, it will do us more- good as a community than & constant hankering after speculative industries not native to the soil and climate. Thomas Kelly. w Glenfern, January 1,1891.