FARMING IN AUCKLAND.

Press, Volume L, Issue 14886, 28 January 1914, Page 12

FARMING IN AUCKLAND.

FINEST SEASON ON RECORD. The Auckland province is exporiencmg the fiuest season on record (telegraphs the correspondent of the "Otago I)aily Times"). ■; Mother Earth has never given more freely of her bounties, and records are being established in even' department of rural industry. January, sq far, has been a dry month, but tlie farmers havo been glad

of the sunshine during the 'harvesting season, and crops have been garnered and stacked under ideal conditions. Rain, warm and soaking, would bo acceptable, tut there is, generally speaking, no cause for anxiety up to the present. Cambridge, in fact, is the only district which has so far sounded" a note of concern. A message from that district states:—"The weather has. been lovely for the harvesting, which must now be almost finished as far as hay is concerned, but unless rain conies speedily the dairying industry will receive a great check, for most of the suppliers are. runninff short of water, and many wells are almost dry- The intense heat of the past few days has caused tho grass to shrink up. and consequently tho milk supply is becoming smaller day by day ~r That the dairying industry has not so far received a set-back is indicated by the fact that last week's butter intake at the Government grading depot and farmers , freezing stores confuted an absolute record in the history of the industry, the amount received exceeding 'JO,UOO boxes. This represent an increase of 1500 boxes on any previous week. When it w remembered that butter is worth approximately £3 per box, it w.ll be realised what the butter industry means to Auckland Last week's production reprSnU a return to the prov.nc-e of £60.000.