WEATHER IN MAY

Press, Volume LXXIX, Issue 23967, 7 June 1943, Page 3

WEATHER IN MAY

HEAVY FROSTS DURING MONTH May was a noteworthy month, according to a summary of the meteorological observations made at Canterbury Agricultural College, Lincoln. Rainfall, mean ileinperatures and hours of sunshine have m below the average, while frosts ■, ve been frequent and severe. In all 24 'i csts were recorded, the hardest one, of 19.7 degrees, was recorded on May 25, and this is the hardest for many years. Rainfall to date is still below normal, and the soil, though moistened on the top by the rain towards the end of the month, is still hard and dry in the subsoil. Frost damage to pastures has not been severe because cf these soil conditions. The cultivation programme and autumn lowing have been continued steadily, but many farmers continued to experience difficulty with deep cultivation because of the hard subsoil. Early sown crops have struck well. Pasture growth has been very slight, while many newly sown paddocks and subterranean clover pastures have not established well and are likely to suffer frost lift following the first soaking rain. The dry conditions have favoured grass grub and porina caterpillar attacks and many old pastures are badly infested. On valuable paddocks control measures for porina are imperative if the pasture is to be saved. The winter feed position is sound, mainly because of the good reserve of hay and silage. Following is a summary of observations made, last year's figures being given In parenthesis:— Mean height of barometer (ins.), 30 001 (29,857): mean humidity, per cent., 83.4 (80.9); mean maximum temperature (degrees Fahrenheit), 54.8 (57.2); highest maximum temperature (degrees Fahrenheit), 36.8 (81.0); mean minimum temperature (deg. F.), 35.6 on 25th (42.4); lowest minimum temperature (deg. F.), 23.8 (32.0); mean grass minimum temperature (deg. F.), 25.2 on 25th (35.3); lowest grass minimum temperature (deg. F.), 10.6 (24.0); mean temperature .for month (deg. F.), 45.2 (49.8); mean range of temperature for month (deg. F.), 19.2 (14.8); mean earth temperature at 9in, 45,3 ( 48.6); days of frost, 24 (10); rainfall (ins), 1.59 (6.91); rainfall to date, 9.38 in (14.39); hours of sunshine, 106,4 (73.9); mean amount of cloud, 5,0 (6.4); miles of Wnd, 2844 (5463); mean force of wind, I-B (3.5).