TEMUKA RAIN BADLY NEEDED

Timaru Herald, Volume CLIII, Issue 22475, 9 January 1943, Page 3

TEMUKA RAIN BADLY NEEDED

Root And Rape Crops

Suffer

Harvesting Commences Rain is badly needed in the Temuka district. A heavy demand on rape and root crops for fattening purposes is anticipated, and these arc just at the stage when they would benefit greatly from a good shower of rain. The ground is warm and the full advantage would be received from the moisture. Good crops of hay are being harvested throughout the district, and many farmers are busy heading grass seed. The harvesting of early oat crops has commenced. In the Orton district the harvest is commencing to come in, said Mr W. Buchan yesterday. There has been a fair amount of hay gathered during the last fortnight, and there are some excellent crops, especially in the Clandeboye district. Autumn sown oats are beginning to come in and several have already been cut. It has been a favourable season for oats, and some good yields are anticipated. Wheat will not be ready to harvest for four or five weeks, and the favourable weather experienced, particularly the absence of strong nor’-westers, has given the heads a chance to fill. Birds have been most destructive this year. Not only have they attacked the oat crops, but they are proving destructive to the wheat in the milk stage, particularly to the X 7. The solid straw wheats are not seriously affected. Rape and turnip crops are not thriving and are badly in need of a good rain. Grass seed is being saved both by direct heading and by pick-up heading, and in some cases the yield looks promising. Haymaking operations in the Milford district are still progressing, said Mr A. D. Crossman, and the weather has been very suitable for getting in the crop. Few autumn-sown oafs are planted in Milford owing to the destructiveness of small birds, and it will be some time yet before harvesting operations begin. Farmers are busy cultivating between the rows of the turnip and mangold crops. These crops have done well, but are now at the stage where a good fall of rain would be of immense benefit. Those who have ground to spare are turning it over in preparation for green feed and wheat for next season. Seed crops in the Waitohi district vary considerably, possibly due to the prolonged dry spell in the winter and early spring, said Mr A. J. Davey. Heavy crops of ryegrass have been badly affected by rust, and it is feared that the germ of the seed may have suffered in some cases. Crops of rape sown for fattening lambs are very poor, and some are a complete failure. This is due to the heavy downpour of rain experienced soon after sowing, and the position is aggravated by the fact that the percentage of fat lambs off the mothers is much smaller than usual. The wheat, like the grass seed in this district, varies consider-' ably. There is some evidence that yields will be satisfactory, but the golden straw for which farmers look is not in evidence and crops are ripening a grey, slatey colour. The dry weather experienced during the past month is scorching the pastures rather badly and grass, which before Christmas was plentiful, is becoming brown and dry. Stock are healthy, but lambs are tending to grow big instead of fattening. BLACKOUT OVER The work of removing the shades from street lights in Temuka is proceeding steadily. Electricians of the South Canterbury Power Board are working from the south end of the town. It is hoped to have full lighting restored throughout the Borough before the end of next week. Old habits die hard and it is noticeable that, after months of blackout precautions, the habit of carefully drawing down house blinds before turning on the lights still lingers. No doubt it will be some time before the thoroughly ingrained habits of carefulness developed by the months of lighting restrictions will be completely forgotten. BOWLING In the champion pairs matches played on Thursday evening, J. B. Davis and A. S. Mclnnes (s) beat J. Gourley and G. Pierce (s), L. G. Scrimshaw and F. Smith (s) beat W. McCallum and T. Harvey (s), W. H. McMillan and H. B. Strange <s) beat L. A. Nicholas and F. A. Joynt (s). In the women’s A grade singles, Mrs T. Winter beat Mrs G. Johnson, Miss H. Thomson beat Mrs R. Thistleton. In the Bowling Buttons competition Mesdames Cain and Davis beat Mcsdames Harrison and Winter. PERSONAL The Rev. and Mrs Peter Anderson and son, formerly of the English Presbyterian Mission, Amoy, Fukien China, are spending a holiday at the Manse. Temuka. Mr Anderson, who is a Batchelor of Science of London University, is chaplain and housemaster at John McGlashan College, Dunedin. He left China after the Japanese occupation of the South China coast and had many thrilling experiences prior to his departure. Miss Mona Ives has returned from a holiday spent in the North island. Mr and Mrs J. Williamson, Dunedin, are the guests of Mrs J. L. Austin, Temuka. Mr and Mrs D. Pedlo have returned to Palmerston after spending a holiday in Temuka. Miss J. Coote, Nelson, is spending a holiday in Temuka. Mr and Mrs L. F. Baker, who have been staying with Mrs J. L. Austin, have returned to Papanui. Mrs F. Entwistle, Sreydon, is spending a holiday with Mrs F. M. Martin. Mr and Mrs C. Williams. High Street, have returned from a visit to Christchurch.