PASTURES AND CROPS.

New Zealand Journal of Agriculture, Volume V, Issue 1, 15 July 1912, Page 75

PASTURES AND CROPS.

JUNE

Officers of the Fields and Experimental Farms Division of the Department report as follows on the condition of the pasture and crops during the past month :• —-

Auckland. —From the Ist to the 4th of last month the weather was very unfavourable, heavy rain falling, at intervals accompanied by thunder and lightning, which greatly retarded farming operations ; some very severe frosts were also experienced. Then followed a few fine, sunny days, which made things in general look more pleasant. Soon, however, the weather changed again, and it continued to rain to the close of the month. Pastures are still making a fair growth ; substitutes, such as hay, green oats, maize, turnips, and mangels, are at the farmer’s disposal, so that there is no reason to fear that cattle of any description may suffer from scarcity of feed in these parts. All classes of stock are in good condition, particularly dairy cows, which keep up the Auckland milk-supply. The outlook from the farmers’ point of : view may be said to continue bright.— R. Rowan. .

.Te Aroha. —The weather in June has been boisterous, with heavy falls of rain. Several keen frosts during the latter part of the month have retarded the growth of pastures ; but in spite of that there is abundant feed. Turnips and rape crops are very good, and with rich supplies of well-harvested hay the settlers in this district are well prepared for the winter, which is likely to be a severe one.— J. L. Morris.

Hamilton. month of June was exceptionally wet and boisterous, with cold southerly winds, and a light fall of snow on the Pirongia Mountain. There were four frosts during the month. The root crops being good, and a fair quantity of hay available, there is every prospect of a sufficiency of feed to carry stock through the winter.— J. Kerr. . -

Cambridge.—The greater part of the month was very wet, with heavy rains at intervals. The temperature was very mild, only three frosts occurring. The pastures are looking well throughout the district, and farmers have saved a lot of hay ; and with good turnip crops there should not be any shortage of feed for stock throughout the district for the winter. Ploughing is a bit backward owing to wet weather. — A. A. Clapcott.

o’oTiki.The weather during the past month was very rough. Cold winds and heavy rain were experienced. Snow was to be seen in some parts on the hills, which is very unusual in these parts. Feed is getting pretty short, and stock, in most instances, have felt the effect of the late severe weather. John Case.

Te Kuiti. —The weather in June was exceedingly wet and cold ; wintry rains were constant, and the winds from the snowy mountains were arctic in their temperature. Floods were experienced everywhere, the rivers having overflowed and inundated the adjoining flat country. Pastures show no growth, and feed is becoming scarce. Turnips are being fed off; white turnips have good fops and bulbs, and swedes good tops with medium-sized bulbs. Mangels are also being fed. to stock ; these roots are of satisfactory size and consistency.— B. Bayly.

Gisborne.—The weather during the first three.weeks of June was fairly mild, with a good deal of rain. In the past week there has been very stormy weather, with cold wind from the south, rain, and light falls of snow on the. higher inland country. As the snow soon disappeared the stock has not suffered. Where dairying is carried on cattlefeed is rather short; and, as very little winter feed is grown, the cows will suffer to some extent during July and August. Maize-picking is now in full swing, and promises an average yield of 75 bushels per acre. The owner of one crop of nine acres near Makaraka expects a yield of 100 bushels per acre. William Ross.

Wairoa.The weather-conditions of the past month were of the most favourable character, the present being one of the mildest winters ever experienced in the county.

The consequent result is that feed is plentiful throughout the district. All "root crops are looking splendid.— T. F. Mullaly. ■ •

Hastings.—We have had considerable variety in the weather-conditions last month. An exceptionally heavy covering of snow remains on the ranges, and on the lower lands an average supply of rain has fallen. Severe frost and cold weather were general. Pastures are still fair, but growth is practically nil. So far stock are doing well; but dairy stock and young sheep will suffer if the wet weather should continue.— J. G. Parker.

Waipukurau.—The weather in June was very changeable. During the greater part of the month showery weather was experienced, with cold winds and several sharp frosts ; and on the 23rd occurred a fall of snow, which lay for about twenty-four hours on the low country. The weather since then was very wintry.— H. 0. M. Christie. . .

Pahiatua.—The past month was very wet and cold, and farm operations thereby became impossible. The total rainfall amounted to 6-75 in. ; rain fell on twenty-four days, the .maximum fall of 1-64 in. occurring on the Ist June. — Thomas Bacon.

Northern Wairarapa.—The weather was very severe throughout the past month. There were cold, sleety showers, accompanied by high winds, and heavy falls of snow occurred on the Tararuas and the low-lying hills. The rough weather was much felt by stock, especially where there had been made no provision for winter feed. There is little or no growth at present, consequently the grass is short and soft, and does not contain much nourishing substance. — J. 8. Rankin.

Masterton.June was an exceptionally wet and cold month; there were some very wet days and several' exceedingly hard frosts. Snow fell at intervals ; it reached very low down on the ranges, and extended in some places to the flat country. Winter feed was much appreciated during the month. Several ensilage-stacks have been successfully built, and will prove of great value for winter feed. T. C. Webb.

Carterton.—The weather, for the greater part of June, has been most severe, and trying to stock. Cold rain and heavy frosts were experienced. Snow has fallen on the high country, which has caused the rivers to rise.—S'. C. Ivens.

Wellington.—The weather has been inclement. Boisterous gales, frequent cold and heavy rains and hailstorms have been experienced, with several severe frosts, which, on the rain-soaked lands, are having a bad effect on feed. Stock is looking fairly well; little mortality so far. The milk-supply is short, and herds are drawing heavily on supplementary feed.— G. H. Jenkinson.

Stratford. —The weather in June was very changeable. Heavy rain fell during the month; thunder and hail also occurred. There were heavy snowfalls on the 22nd and the 23rd. The consequence of the bad weather is that all outside agricultural work has been considerably retarded.— A. F. Wilson.

Hawera.—The month of June opened, with high winds and heavy rainstorms from the west. These conditions prevailed with more or less intensity until the 11th, when a few frosts with bright sunny days were experienced. An unpleasant change again set in on the 20th, the weather being distinctly wintry. High winds from the south-east predominated, accompanied by violent rain and hail storms, and almost total absence of sunshine. Similar conditions prevailed till the end of the month. The condition of stock is good, and does not appear to have been seriously affected by the cold, wet weather of the past week or two. Grass is still plentiful, and liberal extra feeding with hay and ensilage is being generally resorted to. — A. J. Glasson. Wanganui.—The weather in June was exceptionally wet and windy. From light showers to heavy storms fell intermittently during the major portion of the month. Four days—from the Bth to the 12th inclusive—was the longest period without rain. The temperature frequently was low, and the wind generally cold and inhospitable. Agricultural work awaits more favourable weather-conditions. Pastures are looking well for the time of the year.— G. Watson. Taihape.—The weather during the past month was exceptionally wet and cold. The rainfall was 6-58 in. Rain fell on twenty-four days ; the maximum fall was 1-08 in. on the 19th. Snow fell on five days. Pastures are still fair.— A. P. Smith.

Ohakune. —The weather throughout the past month was exceptionally wet and cold. Snow fell on the 15th and 22nd, and the month ended with a heavy fall of snow. The prevailing conditions are unfavourable both to stock and pastures. Rain fell on twenty-four days, the total rainfall for the month being 10-36 in.— P. Barry.

. Feilding.—The weather was .very wet and cold during the past month, and only thirteen fine days could be recorded. Nevertheless feed was plentiful, and there is every

indication of an early spring. Oat crops that are sown and above ground look very promising ; but many farmers are backward with their ploughing and seeding operations. Root crops are much better than last season, but fine weather is required for feeding down. The stock throughout the district are looking exceedingly well.— William Dibble.

Palmerston North.—During the month of June the weather was exceptionally cold and wet. The total rainfall for the eighteen wet days was 6-81 in. The heaviest single day’s rainfall was on the Ist of the month. Several sharp frosts were experienced, but the pastures are fairly good for the time of the year. Owing to the heavy rainfall there is a good deal of surface-water lying about, which will hinder cultivation.— W. Dalgleish.

Nelson.—The weather duringfjune has been changeable. Showers or heavy rains, with snow on the higher ranges, alternated with fine days accompanied by rather severe frosts at night. The pastures, especially the native ones, are exceedingly good for the time of the year, and most of the stock look well. The principal grain crops sown at present are oats, and they are growing well. Some farmers predict an early spring.— Gilbert J. Ward.

Hokitika.—June was a cold and very wet month. The rainfall to date (29th) has been 14-28 in., the maximum being on the 15th, when 3-62 in. was registered. The ranges have a heavy coating of snow, consequently frosts are very severe, and feed for stock is becoming scarce. Everything points to an exceptionally cold winter. Unfortunately root crops in connection with co-operative experiments have been unsatisfactory this season on the West Coast, owing to continual wet and cold weather, and, in some cases, to the ground being flooded soon after the seed was sown.— H. J. Walton.

Blenheim.—There has been considerable variation in the weather during the month. The first three days were bright and sunny, with hard frosts at night. Then came a period of rain and fairly heavy snow on the high country, followed by bright days and hard frosts at night. Afterwards there was another change to warmer weather, accompanied by heavy rains, which caused considerable floods in rivers, especially in the Pelorus, which was higher than it has been since the 1904 flood; but fortunately there has been no serious loss of stock. The last week was fairly fine, with hard frosts.— H. Brittain. .

Seddon.—The weather during the whole of June was very changeable. From the Ist to the 16th cold, showery weather prevailed, with snow falling in Upper Awatere. There were several sunny days accompanied by severe frosts. From the 18th to 21st very heavy rains fell, and the warmer weather caused the snow on the mountains to melt, with the consequence that all rivers and streams were flooded; then came a heavy fall of snow, especially on the higher country, but reaching right down to the coast. " The latter portion of the month was a succession of. heavy frosts, with bright, sunny days. Although the growth of the pastures is retarded by the frost, settlers are confident of wintering stock well.— T. Sinclair.

Rotherham. —The weather during the past month was very seasonable. There was a fair amount of frost during the early part of the month, and also a good deal of snow on the high country. On the 30th there occurred another fall of snow, which was a general one, there being about. 1 in. on the low country. April was a very wet month, there being 5-17 in. of rain. May was much drier, there only being 2 in. Pastures are still good, having made a good growth in May. Potato-digging is now completed, and yields are somewhat disappointing.— W. M. Munro.

Kaikoura.—With the exception of a cold blizzard on the 23rd, a few hard frosts and rough stormy weather on the 29th and 30th, good weather for this time of the year has prevailed. Very little autumn sowing of grain has been done. Pastures are makinglittle or no growth, but there is a fair amount of feed about. A few early lambs are now to be seen.— William S. Goodall. , .

Rangioba.—The weather during last month has been very favourable. Most of the farmers have taken advantage of it and got nearly all their ploughing done. There have been a few hard frosts, and during the last week a good deal of rain and snow has fallen on the high country, and a little on the flat. There is plenty of winter feed up to the present.— Hughes. Lincoln.—The first week of June was mild, the rest of the month, generally, wet and cold. The area under winter-wheat is small, heavy lands having been too wet for cultivation or sowing. The state of the ground, together with a scarcity of labour, greatly hindered potato-digging, and many crops are now rotting in the ground. Very few of the growers of clover-seed were able to harvest their crops satisfactorily, many not at all, owing to the absence of suitable weather.— J. G. Scott.

Ashburton.June was a wet month ; it rained on sixteen days. ■ The total rainfall amounted to 2-61 in. as compared with 6-105 in. for the corresponding month of last year. There have been some heavy frosts, up to 17 degrees. Rain and frost have retarded ploughing considerably. Turnip crops are lasting well, and some good potato crops have been lifted.— G. Branigan. '

Timaru.—The weather has been very broken during the month : snow on the,low hills, heavy frosts, and heavy falls of rain. The rain had developed the sowing of winterwheat and general farm-work.— J. C. Huddleston.

Fairlie. June was a very wet and unfavourable month; there were only a few fine days, with very severe frosts at night. . A heavy fall of snow occurred in the north end of the Mackenzie country on the 19th. Some snow-raking has been done, but no loss of stock is expected. Up to the present all the low country is clear, and stock is wintering well. The season for fat stock is now at an end. The returns of Fairlie Rail-way-station for April, May, and June, compared with those for the same months of last year, show a decrease of 40 per cent, in the number of fat lambs sent to the works. The very poor lambing is blamed for this. The returns of grain trucked in April, May, and June show a large increase over those for the same period of last year. Nearly a third of the crops has not yet been threshed; this will be done in spring, as the threshingmills cannot at present be moved about, owing to the very wet condition of the country. —W. B. Manning.

Oamaru.—The weather in June was very changeable; it was wet and cold. The rainfall amounted to 3 in. Farmers are, however, getting on with their winter work.— (S'. M. Taylor.

Waimate.—The month of June has been unusually cold; severe frosts with snow on high country, and occasional heavy rains have been experienced. Threshing operations have been much hindered. Many mills have ceased work, it being in many cases impossible, owing to the wet condition of the land, for a threshing plant to get on the land. Yields recorded of cereals already threshed are very good. Farmers have taken advantage during spells of fine weather, and drilling of grain has been hurried on apace. A scarcity of labourers for farm-work is being felt; and it is doubtful if the area in cereals will not be considerably. less than was anticipated some time ago. With pastures so good, and the fair crops of turnips and mangels noticeable, there is ample evidence of sufficient fodder to carry stock through the remainder of winter. Potatoes generally are turning out well up to expectations, and some good yields are noticeable.— A. Macdonald.

Kitrow.— weather during June was beautifully mild, with several beneficial showers and very little snow on the high country. There was almost an absence of frost from the Ist to the 23rd, which allowed farmers to get well on with their, ploughing, sowing, &c. There is a plentiful supply of feed on the rough country, and runholders have suffered no loss in their flocks, so far, from snow.— G. Reid. , -

Dunedin. During the month of June the weather was very cold and wet, with a fair amount of snow on the hills. The ground is now thoroughly saturated, and work on the land is at a standstill.— J. R. Renton.

Sutton.—The weather throughout June has been very stormy, with an excessive rainfall, also occasional hard frosts. Stock, however, is in good condition, and should come through the winter well. Most farmers are well provided with extra winter feed in both straw and turnips.— W. Scott.

Palmerston South. Throughout the month we have had good seasonable winter —heavy rains and frosts with snow on higher levels, also one or two slight frosts on lower country. The land has now had a good soaking, although not too much. Lea land is in good condition for ploughing. Early-sown crops are showing a good braird. No threshing has yet been done in Macrae’s, Moonlight, or Green Valley districts. Pastures are rough and good, and all stock are in good condition.— 8. Dalgleish.

Mosgiel.—During the month of June rain fell on nineteen days. On the 4th snow was lower down on the surrounding hills than has been the case for the last three years. Very heavy rain fell on the 12th and 13th, causing the Silverstream and Tokomariro Rivers to overflow their banks, and the low-lying land was under water for some time ; but the flood did not cause any damage, and the land is practically dry again.— H. McLeod.

Clyde.—The rainfall for last month was 1-38 in., being the wettest June experienced for many years. There were some severe frosts, but on the whole the month was a mild one. Snow fell on the 29th, but the fall was only a slight one on the low country. The frost now appears to have set in. The pastures are wonderfully fresh for the middle of

winter. There has been considerable sowing of both wheat and oats. Turnips are lasting very well, having made good growth in the late autumn.— Thomas N. Baxter. '

Naseby.June was a changeable month. Rain and snow prevailed up to the 16th. Since then the weather has been more favourable, although cold snaps and heavy frost have set in. Snow is lying on high country. Grass everywhere in Maniototo is looking well, and stock is keeping in good condition. — A. T. N. Simpson.

Balclutha.—The weather in June was very rough. Rain fell on seventeen days; the heaviest fall was on the 12th, when 70 points were registered. The total fall for the month was 3-93 in. All farm-work is at a standstill; some mill-owners have ceased operations owing to the wet state of the ground. In some cases oats and wheat are still in stook; there is one farmer who has got 200 acres of a very heavy crop out. Reeding-off with turnips is very difficult owing to the continued wet. Potato crops are very poor, but fairly free of disease. So far there has been very little frost.— Hugh A. Munro.

Tapanui.—The weather was extremely rough and wintry during the whole past month. Farm-work is practically at a standstill. In a few isolated instances crop is still standing in stook, and must now be almost worthless, except it be carted out to stock. Turnips, on the whole, are fair, but evidently potatoes are not yielding very well, and, owing to the very wet condition of the ground, in many instances, difficulty is being experienced in lifting them. • Should this weather continue the work of preparing ground for the coming season’s crops will be much behind. During the month we have had three falls of snow on the low gound. Rain fell on twenty-four days, and the total rainfall was 7-98 in.— W. J. McCulloch.

Lawrence.—The weather in June was very cold, with light falls of snow and sharp frosts. Rain fell on twenty-one days, and the total rainfall was 4-87 in. Farming operations are hindered very much by the broken weather. Threshing is progressing slowly. There are a few isolated cases of crops still being out in stook, and there is no likelihood of saving them yet. There should be every chance of a good spring after all this rough and wet weather ; it has been broken weather practically since October last. There will be very little autumn or winter crop sown, on account of the lateness of the harvest this year.— Barron.

Invercargill.—Very little frost was experienced during June, but it was a cold, wet month, and the rainfall has been high. Pastures are bare, and turnips are being fed off. The wet state of the ground has greatly retarded the work of lifting potatoes, and there is still a large area to be dug. The smaller rivers in this district have been running bank high for nearly a month, and on occasions they have overflowed their banks. The larger rivers, however, have not been carrying so much water as inland ones. A considerable amount of snow has fallen. The rainfall for the month was 6-59 in., falling on twenty-five days.— J. R. Whyborn.

Otautau. —The present month was the wettest for many years : there have been practically only four fine days up to the present. A change for the better, however, appears to have come, which will be welcome to the farmers. All farm-work has been practically at a standstill owing to the wet nature of the ground.— H. F. Dencker.

Gore.—The past month was one of the worst experienced in this district; it rained day after day. There was also a good deal of snow. In consequence, farm-work has been practically at a standstill, and up to the present very little ploughing has - been done. Ido not know of any winter wheat having been sown ; as the ground is full of water now, it looks as if harvest will be late again next year.— Grant.

Queenstown. —During the whole past month very unsettled weather was experienced; there was frost for a few nights, then came rain with snow on the higher levels. There was no snow on the lower country until the 29th, when it was about an inch high; snow equal to several inches had fallen previously, but it melted away, as there was no frost in the ground. All the high country is now carrying a heavy cover of snow. The winter so far has been milder than last year.— A. Clarke.

Owaka.—The weather in June was exceedingly wet and rough. There was much rain, while there was a good deal of snow on the high country in some cases it was fairly low down. A good many farmers have their crops still in the stook. There will be a considerable amount of inferior chaff this year. Owing to so much ranVroads in portions ofjlie district are next’to impassable.— Thomas D. Urquhart.

Lumsden.—During the month of June'we experienced a very heavy rainfall, also several days of snow on the low country, and much snow on the high country. We had only five days without rain during the month. Consequently all farm-work is very much behind, and stooks are still to be seen in some paddocks with very little hope of

being harvested. Oats already threshed are showing a good return ; but the grass-seed a very light one. Potatoes are not yielding as well as expected. At the time of writingsnow is falling, with the appearance of more rough weather to follow.— W. 8. 8. Cantrell.

Pembroke. weather during the past month was wet and cold ; so much rain has not been experienced in the winter for years. A considerable amount of snow has fallen on the higher country. The frosts have also been exceptionally severe. Towards the latter part of the month outside work of all kinds has been practically suspended.— J. A. Griffith,.