WEATHER AND CROPS.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1392, 19 March 1912, Page 8

WEATHER AND CROPS.

OFFICIAL FEBRUARY REVIEW. ) Officers of tho Department of Agriculture report as under on the weather of tho past month and tho condition of tho pastures anil crops:— Wanganui.—Frequent showers, in eases exceptionally heavy, militated severely (lgaiust effective harvesting of hay ami grain crops during tho second and third week of February. Fairly fine weather was experienced for remainder of mouth, 'l'ho temperature of the first three weeks ■was mild generally, with occasional cold periods, and wind was persistent, sometimes blowing with lmrricano force. Close hot weather obtained during last week of the month. Root and grain crops generally aro looking well, With tho exception of maize, which remains stunted, duo to continued unsuitable weather. Stratford.—A fine growing month, with a lew wet days and very heavy dows, -.which has had tho effect of bringing on tho root orops aud green feed. Most of tho hay has been well saved, and heavy yields are tho rule. Hawera.—Nice warm summer weather has been experienced during the month, with good rains at convenient intervals. Turnip and root crops generally aro looking well and making good growth. Tho liulk of the grain crop has been harvested in good condition, and yields are expected to be above tho average. Oroua.—Recent rains should enable farmers to prepare their lands for sowing down, and also enable them to turn their' stubbles up to be sweetened by the sun before sowing their autumn crops, if the teams were nut iuti. the paddock almost before tho crop is carted oil'-it would save the manure bill. It' thcro should be a joodly amount of undergrowih.the ploughins under of this will add humus to tho soil. Iviwitea and Rangitikoi.—ldeal weather prevailed during the month, there being * sufficient raius and suushino to keep this grass country right. Alt abundance offeed everywhere. Tho prospects are very bright for a good supply of grass for the winter months. Cocksfoot cutting and threshing is being retarded owing to the rainy season. Blight is fairly prevalent in iiotatocs, but good yields are being obtained. . Alanawatu.—'The -weather lias been changeable. The wind has lieou westerly on the whole, aud lias retarded grai's-seed work. Pastures have been good. Grain crops'are good, nnd grass-seed crops aro big, but Hie quality is light. Early-sown Toot crops wero unsatisfactory, but later ones are better. Waipukurau.— I The weather has been very dry north of Takauau, light showers falling, "which were not of much benefit to pastures. From tho 25tii to date the weather has been broken, and should the wind keep away there will yet bo a fair growth of grass. ?outh of Takapau the country is looking welt, tho weather being broken right through the month. There is an abundance of feed where it is not too lieavilv stocked. Pahiatua.— I Tho weather is having a good influence on pastures and crops. On the whole green maiza liaj been a failure, but turnips are coming along nicely. Northern Wairarapa.—ln the bush district north-west of Masterton and Ekotahuna there is abundance of feed on account of the showery weather. Stock is looking well, and settlers have told me thecows are milking well for this time of the vear. The common trouble in the bush , ilistrict is the scarcity, of winter feed. Crops have been safely gathered in. except in a few cases, niul thosn will be all'in by the middle of the month. Wairarapa Coastal Districts. —The wea- ■ ther has been mild—some very warm tiays Ifith showers and occasionally a iair

amount of wind. Pastures arc.oil.looking well. A frost (lining; Uio month cut down several niiiizo crops, but other crops havo dono exceptionally well. In several instances the ont yield wai 100 bushels to tho acre, and in other cases 00 and S-l bushels—inucli bettor than previous crops. Wheat has also dono well. Several growers have obtained CO and TO bushels- to tho .acre. A large area of swedes are uow.being sown on the stubblo land. -Cartel-toil.—Tho weather luis been very broken, lleavy rains havo beon general, except during ono fino week in tho middlo of tlio month. Several light frosts wero experienced, Rabbit poisoning has been seriouslv delayed through the rough weather. Feed is pl-entii'ul on tho.open country. Green maizehus been checked by i'robt and wind. I'npc ami rout crops arc of a I'aiL' description. (Juts aro generally good. Wellington.—Early in the month the w'eaUwr was squally and rough. Later on tho climatic conditions-improved. Tho good rains which fell, freshened up. pastures, and largely benefited all-crops'; -• MarlborougU.—Tho weather on tho wholo was\fine during tho month, heavy rain falling on only four days. There have been only about fivo hot (lays, the remainder being ou the cold side for summer. There was very heavy dew on three nights, and towards morning very cold temperatures. Strong winds that have been prevalent did a. good deal of harm to orchards. •'■'• ' ": " ':'" ■:".

Nelson.—Shower6 of rain have fallen during the month. This has kept tho pastures grcsn. Root crops are growing well, but the weather has delayed the -harvest-. :iiu;' of." some of the late crops. It is; tho best season for feed for many years,--aml stock should bo in good demand. The "grain''crops are goad, and most of thorn aro in stack, though there are odd fields still in stcok. The potatoes on tho whole look-well, though the blight has begun-to attack them in some plages.