DROUGHT CONDITIONS

Waikato Times, Volume 122, Issue 20463, 1 April 1938, Page 6

DROUGHT CONDITIONS

LOW MARCH RAINFALL FARMERS APPREHENSIVE Last month was one of the driest for March on record, only .42 inch of rain falling in 31 days. Although fair to fine conditions were general during March the weather has been exceptionally warm this year, with the maximum temperatures equal to summer levels. Despite the fact that there was less than half an inch of rain last month !the total for the year to date is already 11 67, due largely to the phenomenal fall of 7.65 inches in February. The total fall for last month represented a reduction of nearly three inches on the average for March, 3.40 Inches. Farmers view the present dry spell with alarm a 6 the weather is a definite check to topdressing and if late rains are experienced it may result in young grass coming away when frosts are becoming general. At present pastures are showing the effect of the practically unbroken spell of fine weather in the autumn and rain, to be really beneficial, is necessary early this month. RECORD DRY MONTH SMALL FALL IN NORTH (By Telegraph.—Press Association) I WHANG ARE I, Friday The month just closed was the 1 driest March on record in Whangarei, only .69in. of rain being recorded, ' against the average over 10 years of s.Sin. The heaviest March rainfall recorded here was in 1920 when 12.26in. was registered. In March, , 1935, the fall was 11.511 n.