WELCOME RAIN

Waipa Post, Volume 43, Issue 3390, 19 December 1931, Page 5

WELCOME RAIN

COMES AT OPPORTUNE TIME. SUPPLEMENTARY CROPS BENEFIT. Mr D. Fulton, chairman of directors of the New Zealand Co-operative Dairy Company, Ltd., when interviewed, stated that the rain that had fallen during the last 36 hours hap come at a period when it was difficult to assess its value to dairymen and farmers generally over the whole of the South Auckland districts. “It is not yet known,” said Mr Fulton, “ whether the rain has bedn universal, but the reports show that Taranaki, North Auckland, and the whole of South Auckland have had splendid rains. There are many parts of the territory mentioned where the effects of dry weather have been.seriously felt. Taranaki and Waikato were suffering badly, but more particularly was the dry weather felt ihwhat is known as Lower Waikato, the area from Mercer to Auckland. “ The humid, continuous fall was more penetrating than a heavy downpour. Supplementary crops such as turnips, jtiangolds, millet, maize, etc., will benefit to the extent that will be assured of good results which were, up to the present, in many districts, looking parched and weak. Farmers who are fortunate enough fp have their hay saved will receive the full benefit by quick returns from the hay paddocks. RAPID GROWTH WILL FOLLOIf. “ I have always contended,” said Mr Fulton, “ that immediately after hay is taken off a paddock, where possible top-dressing can immediately be applied, rapid growth will follow providing rain comes within a reasonable time after the dressing. I do not know any season where it is more essential to put on a light dressing than the present, because of the fact that we have not anything like as good a sward, or what we commonly call a bottom, in our paddocks tins year, as compared with many years fa the past; but this rain will help considerably to bring clovers and small, seed away. “ Indeed,” said Mr Fulton, “ it is the best rain we have had ’Since September, and the only real growing rain up to the present in this dairying season. While it is possible that we will have quite a lot of dry, hot weather 1 during the summer months, nevertheless the recent fall is very welcome, and has come at a very opportune time, which will help to maintain the Supply for a much longer period thSn would otherwise have been the case.”