THE WEATHER AND AGRICULTURE.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume II, Issue 1, 16 January 1911, Page 44

THE WEATHER AND AGRICULTURE.

[By

D. C. BATES,

♦ — Director of Meteorological Office.]

exceptional for heavy falls accompanying thundery conditions in various parts. Thus, at River Bank, Napier, on the 10th, 2-40 in. of rain fell in ninety minutes, and comprised nearly the half of the total fall for the month at that place.

The month opened with the advance of an ex-tropical disturbance in the far North, for which the barometer fell in., while at the same time it rose in the southern districts.

A disturbance, which had travelled with decreasing energy from the westward, enveloped the country on the 6th with mild and humid conditions, and heavy rain in parts, especially on the west coast of the South Island. The barometer afterwards continued, unsteady, with frequent changes. On the 20th the barometer was very low in the far South, and stormy weather prevailed southward of New Plymouth and Napier. Barometric pressure increased until the 23rd, when a rapid fall took place in the South, and was accompanied by high northerly winds and stormy weather. 29 in. of barometric pressure was recorded at the Bluff on the morning of the 24th, after which the barometer rose steadily with strong southerly winds, but, fortunately, with very pleasant weather generally for the holidays. On the 27th the barometer was above normal, but afterwards fell only J in. through a few hours. In the rear 1 of this small area of low pressure was cold, squally, and disagreeable weather, which particularly affected the east coast between Castlepoint and Kaikoura —-effects which were in marked contrast to those which accompanied the steady rise of 1 in. barometric pressure on the 25th and 26th after the storm on Christmas Eve. District Notes. Whangarei Heads.— The month of December was a very dry one, this making up for the surplus amount we received in the preceding month. Crops are coming on fine, and the grass has more substance in it. — (F. J. McKenzie.) Auckland.- —A muggy humid month, with a wonderful growth of vegetation. No storms of any consequence, and no particularly heavy falls of rain on any one day. —(T. F. Cheeseman.) Te — Plenty of warm rain, favourable from an agricultural point of view. AU vegetation coming away rapidly.— {G. F. McGirr.) Athenree (Tauranga). — The rainfall in this district has been exceptionally heavy for the month of December. We had rain on 16 days, totalling 6-30 in., as compared with 6 days with rain in December of last year, totalling 1-44 in. Dry weather is much needed now in order to save the crops. (W. Salter.) Rangiahua (Hokianga).— A very windy month. Grass has been very plentiful, but owing to the winds the moisture is completely drawn out of

the dug ground, and it has been difficult to raise small seeds such as carrots, parsnips, onions, &c. Potatoes seem to be generally blighted in the district. —(TP. R. Coxhead.)

New Plymouth. —A. warm month with plenty of rain. About the middle of the month we had some very rough weather,' the rivers overflowing their banks, and the seas exceptionally rough. Farmers complain that owing to the heavy rain the potato-blight is increasing in virulence. —(IF. Fletcher.)

Weraroa Experimental Farm (Levin). This month has been a rather disappointing one to the farming community around Levin. Rain fell on sixteen days, and, though the falls were only light ones and refreshed the ground very little, they were sufficient to cause the harvesting to be considerably interfered with. A heavy hailstorm on the 10th did a little damage to the oat crops. Very few high winds were recorded, and if the rain’had only left off a while, harvesting would have been carried out in record time. —(II. Huntington.)

Waitatapia (Bulls). Very wet for December ; brought on late crops wonderfully ; stopped shearing.— (W. W. Dalrymple.)

Waituna West {Feilding). The first week in December was ideal weather, then it broke, and has remained broken since. The rainfall has not been heavy at any time, but it has been pretty constant. Before the break farmers were getting a little afraid of the dry weather ; since then they have been grumbling, not at the quantity, for they would have liked more, but the time it has taken over it. Quite a number were caught at the finish of shearing with a day or two more to go, and it took them nearly a fortnight to finish. Lamb-shearing and haymaking are now in hand, and unless the weather takes up they are likely to remain there some little time. On two days there were light dashes of hail. 1910 has been singularly free from hail, for some reason or other. At times it has been rather cold. —- {J. Guylee.)

Ditton {Masterton). Very good rains. The country, which was very dry in the spring, has now quite recovered. A frost was recorded on the grass on the 28th. Mean maximum temperature, 1° below last month. — {S. Mawley.)

Meeanee {Napier). — The weather was unsettled for December. The number of days on which rain fell was much in excess of that for the corresponding period of the two previous years, but the total rainfall was much below the average. Most of the rain fell between the Bth and the 16th instant. Thunder on the Bth, 9th, 10th, 11th. The barometer was about the average for December, while all the temperatures were slightly lower than those of the last December. The barometer was, however, exceptionally low on the 17thbeing the lowest on record for Meeanee. The temperatures on the grass reached freezing-point on the morning of the 30th —an unusual occurrence for December. There was the average amount of bright sunshine. ' The velocity of the wind on the 16th was the greatest on record at Meeanee for December, and was exceeded twice only during 1910—-viz., 2nd and 22nd July. {Dean Smyth, S.M.)

Eketahuna. — More like a spring than summer month. Pasture still green, and abundance of it, everywhere in this district.— {J. T. Quinn.)

Annedale (Te Nui).- —-There has been. 93 points more rain this year than last, being 47-63 in., on 157 days, being sixteen days fewer, There has not been much drying weather, and the creeks and dams are full, having kept up their normal height through the past nine months. There is a good growth of grass, and white clover is plentiful, and all stock doing well. We have not had either the extremes of dry weather nor flood experienced in other parts of the Dominion. (H. A. Nevins.)

Pahautanui.— The weather during the past month has been summer all through. The highest temperature was on the 18th and 19th, 70° and 71° respectievly being recorded. The rain which fell on the 21st and 23rd produced a humid warmth. This caused potato-blight, though not in a very virulent form. The apple crop promises to be heavy, and codlin-moth is kept well down through the efforts of the Department concerned. The frequent rains have kept up a splendid supply of feed. — -{J. Pearce.)

Timaru (Marlborough). —-An unusually wet month for the time of the year. Owing to the constant showers the barley was discoloured before it was cut,"‘and I fear there is not a bright sample in the district. (R. F. Goulter.) Mackenzie {Cheviot). — The first week of December was fine and extremely hot, and heavy rain was experienced on the Bth and 9th. On the 12th a heavy thunderstorm passed a few miles south from here, travelling from west to east, and turning north when at sea. The wind changed from north-east to south-west at 2 p.m., changed again to south-east at 2.30 p.m., changed again to south-west at 4 p.m. with heavy rain and wind. Brilliant forked lightning could be seen during the progress of the thunderstorm. An extremely heavy hailstorm followed, and cut down crops as if they had been mown down, but the trail was not broad.— {A. C. Bellwood.) Methven. The rain which fell on the Bth and 12th came at a most opportune time,, as the grain crops were beginning to feel the want of moisture. The result is that the grain crops are expected to give a much better yield than last year, and the prospects in this district are very good. {J. Carr.) H'anmer. Springs.— The weather was a good deal unsettled during the month. There was a fall of hail on the 28th instant, and a dusting of snow on high country. Some of the oat crops have been harvested, and others are looking in good condition.— (S. J. Collett.) Christchurch.— North-east and south-west winds generally prevalent throughout the month. An average rainfall. — (H. F. Skey.) Otahuna (Tai Tapu). —-A very windy month. — (R. Heaton Rhodes.) Pleasant Point (Timaru). 'The rain which fell in the early part of the month made a great difference to vegetation of all kinds, the burnt appearance of the grass paddocks giving place to a fresh green in the course of a few days, while the grain crops took a fresh lease of life, and will now be well filled, although short in the straw. The latter end of the month has been hot and windy, notably on the 24th, when it blew hot and strong from north-west from morning till night. Another, good rain would now be welcome, especially for root crops and grass. Harvest has commenced, and will be general in about a week or ten days.— {J. Bishop.) . , ' - Waimate. Dry conditions of previous month prevailed until the 17th, when a thunderstorm brought welcome rain. Since then the weather has

been unsettled and broken. On the 17th there was a- good rain. A short dry spell occurred between the 15th and the 24th, and detracted from the beneficial effect of the previous rains. Many of the crops, however, have recovered wonderfully, and prospects are fair for harvest in the localities where the crops had withstood the worst effects after drought. The country generally, however, is still very dry. — (W. M. Hamilton.) Totara Estate (Oamaru).— The rainfall for the year.was 16-41 in., but during the farmer’s cropping season, from April to December, it was only 10-95 in., and to make matters worse the evaporation must have been very great. Immediately after any rain-showers fell during the year a strong drying wind always sprang up and quickly evaporated the moisture.— (J. Macpherson.) ' ... Leith Valley (Dunedin). rainy month. — (H. Skey.) Bushey Park (Palmerston South). — The frequent showers which fell during the month did an immense amount of good to the crops, but this' Was to some extent discounted, especially as regards the pasture, • by the very drying winds that so often followed them. On Christmas Eve there was a gale that wilted the very weeds. Rape and turnip crops promise very well indeed, and grain crops, though below the average, are expected to yield much better than seemed likely a month ago.— (Mrs. J. J. McKenzie.) Boslin Estate (Woodlands).- growing weather.- (J. D. Trotter.)

Notes. The sun reaches its southernmost declination and nearest approach to the earth about the 22nd December, and astronomically this would be considered the height of summer in the Southern Hemisphere ; but, as the heat of the earth and atmosphere goes on accumulating, the height of summer comes later in a meteorological sense, and summer is roughly taken as only commencing with December as its first month. This year the weather during the month has been warm and mild. The barometer was below the normal from the sth to the 27th, and during that period electrical disturbances and frequent showers were much in evidence. Though the rainfall was generally below the average, some returns are

DECEMBER. Rainfall fob. December, 1910. Departure from Normal for the Month, + above, Station. Total Fall. Number of Days Rain fell. Maximum Fall, and Date. — below. North Island. In. In. In. + 0’67 Pakaraka / 3-90 3-90 12 12 ' 1-10 1-10 on on 1st. 1st. - 0-02 Auckland 2-83 19 ' 1-07 2nd. - O il Waiuku .3-71 20 0-75 25 th. + 0-96 Waihi .. 6-20 19 2-26 17th. + 0-55 Hamilton 4-24 - 17 1-14 16th. - 0-68 Gisborne 2-10 11 0-58 16th. - 0-50 Meeanee 2-04 13 0-46 10th. + 2-66 New Plymouth .. 6-79 18 1-78 16th. - 0-45 Inglewood (Taranaki) 7-22 18 1-38 14 th. + 1-32 Wanganui 3-75 17 0-64 14th. , -0-50 Levin .. 2-62 16 0-57 9th. + 0-29 Wellington 3-59 15 1-08 9th. South Island. - 061 Nelson .. 226 ■ 14 0-57 on 9th. - 0-78 Hokitika 10-20 11 1-92 6th. - 2-14 Okuru .. 10-50 12 2-72 19th. + 0-88 Lincoln 2-88 10 ' 1-07 8th. + 082 Kapunatiki 2-88 12 0-94 8th. - 1-22 Oamaru 1-26 6 0-44 12th. - 0-94 Balclutha 1-64 8 0-42 30th. - 0-11 Dipton 3 80 12 0-92 11th. - 1-93 Invercargill 2-39 14 0-50 r, 28th. 28th.