THE PASTURES AND CROP.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1373, 26 February 1912, Page 8

THE PASTURES AND CROP.

JAXUARI" SURVEY. Beporting on the weather for the past month and the condition of the crops and pastures, officers of the Fields and .Experiments Division of the Agricultural Department givo the following information :— New Plymouth.—Heavier rainfall than usual anil a lower temperature. Great difficulty has been experienced in gathering ■ the hay, which, contrary to early indications, has been an excellent crop. Both wheat and oats, ns anticipated, will yield well. Maize is very backward and poor. Both turnips and mangels are growing well. The potato crop is the best for years, and so far there is little blight. There is an abundance of grass everywhere, and consequently the cows are keeping up their supply of milk. Al.though the factory supply is below.that o* last year, there is every probability of the deficiency being made up diiring tho remainder oi the summer nnd autumn. Stratford.—Very fine month, and has improved the crops and pastures wonderlully. The good spell has enabled most of the hay to bo got in, and the sowing of turnips to bo completed. Although there is an abundance of feed, farmers still complain of a shortage of milk, but they are compensated by a higher test. A lair amount ot ensilage has been made in the district. The prospects for tho winter have greatly improved owing to the favourable month. All crops look well except maize, which has suffered by the abwnco of warm weather in the earlier stages of growth, Ohakune.—The weather throughout has been favourable, both for cereal and root crops the only exception being the potato areas-which suffered in consequence of a sharp'frost. .Pastures at present provfde an abundance of feed. Ifp to the present conditions have not favoured good burns. Oats for chaffing are short, but arc well headed. They promise to make first-class samples of chaff. Cocksfoot for seed is not too promising. Good strikes of turnips and mangels; areas that have received careful cultivation are looking remarkably well. ltawern. —The weather has, on the whole, been favourable for dairy-farming. There is plenty of grass about, and settlers of experience say they have F.eldoni seen the country looking belter at this time of the year. Factory returns arc satisfactory, and are to some e'xlent compensating for the smaller supplies earlier in the season. Farmers have been busy getting in hay and ensilage, large quantities of which have been secured. Green maize will not give a heavy yield, roots are coining on well, and oats are late, but should give an average return. Wangamit.—The fine weather, with occasional showers, has been uf/incalculable service in maturing grass-seed and cereal crops, facilitating harvesting operations, stimulating growth of roots and green crops, and in giving substance to the leed in pastures which, owing to tli« long period of intermittent rains and absence of warmth, had been relatively pooi in quality though abundant in quantify. Store hay than usual has been harvested, and the fanners' outlook for the future is bright. All crops are looking well but green maize, which is stunted. ■ Manawatu.—Weather conditions have improved considerably during the past month, although still unsettled. The irnprpved conditions have hardened up the pastures, which are now good. Crops have also benefited. More sunshine is badly required. Paliiahia.—There is nn abundance of feed, nnd from nU appearances stock generally will be fairly well provided for during the coming winter. Kimlnge is being made on several farms. Knots are |ate, but are looking well, but green maize is very Into and poor. Wnirafana (Akitio and C'as(lepoiiit).— Crops arc looking exceptionally well, and there will be a much better return than has been the case for some years. Oats in particular arc a very I'ieavy crop. Maize, too, has grown very well, and on many dairy farms there should be a good supply of .this fodder for cows during the months when feed is scarce. Much more maizo has been grown this season than last. Wairarapa (North-west).—The weather was particularly good last month. Whiteand root crops were ureatly assisted by occasional showers. The wet weather of tho preceding months made the grass soft and encouraged it to run to seed. It lins now improved, and is plentiful. Turnips are promising, but rape is not as good as usual. Wheat should be well up to the average, but oats below it. i Wellington.—lmproved weather conditions have freshened up pastures ' and crops generally. Considerable loss has beon experienced in potatoes, owing to their being rushed on to tho market through tho outbreak of Irish blight.