CROPS AND PASTURES.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1426, 29 April 1912, Page 8

CROPS AND PASTURES.

OFFICIAL REVIEW OF MARCH. Officers of tho Fields nnd Experiment Farms Division of the Agricultural Department, reporting condition of tho crops and pastures' during -March, give tho'following information-.— Mnngawoka.—The month was excellent for grass. There is no doubt the past season has been good; still, had there been more sunshine the grass would have'been of better feeding value, with the result that stock would have fattened better, and crops of all kinds . would have ripened sooner and have been 'harvested in a more satisfactory condition. Olmkiine.—Oats have be™ very late in maturing, and on the majority of farms have j list been cut and stooked. Turnips, mangels, and carrots are looking remarkably well, and promise to prove a valuable assot to farmers who have thus fortified themselves . against the long and severe Winter generally experienced here. Pastures are still, good. ; .Taihape.—Tho weather has.been fairly :wpt. .Tiain fell oil fourteen days. .The fly. has played havoc with the late' turnips, more especially on the newly-burnt Jjiish' country. There is an abundance of feed everywhere. Now Plymoulh.—Frequent showers during tho lirst part of the month delayed harvesting, but with the exception of a few local showers the weather for the last fortnight has been fine, with cold nights .and heavy dews. The country is looking very well, with an abundance of grass. All root- crop> are making satisfactory growth, w'.iile the number of stacks of hay, corn, and ensilage are far in excess of the number built last year. This should enable the farmers to winter their stock well and to start the milking season with their cows, in good condition., which, if a'geed ieturn is required, is most important. ;Haw*ra.—Very unsettled weather has been experienced—cloudy days with frccjiniit showers, with a suspicion of frosts at nights and occasional high winds. This has retarded harvesting of late crops in the early part of the month, but the moist .weather has been very beneficial to postures, root and-green crops generally. The grass grub, which cau«-d considerable ■trouble last year, is'not much in evidence thi.-j season. Harvesting is now completed, and threshing is in full swing. 'The expected lieijvy' yields are being fully realised. The milk supply at factories is holding: out well, and is much better than in the corresponding month of last year.

•Stratford.—Frorinpiit heavy rains have interfered with the harvesting of grain crops. In some, cases .the oaten hay.has lain in the 'paddocks for a fortnight, and is therefore .considerably discoloured. It ;-has been a ■ seed -growing month for all .root croji'.CTri.stnrcs are looking well.. Waugaiim.—The' worst features of tlie weather exporienced since the middle of Octobsr last have continued during March, viz., frequent showers, absence of sunshine and warmth, and considerable wind at frequent intervnls. The completing of harvesting operations has been especially difficult owing to the absence of lenythy dry periods, and in some- cases considerable loss must have resulted. Hoot crops are. looking well. There is (in abundance of feed iu.the pastures, but it is lacking in quality, Waipukurau.—Haying had several days of 'warm rain at different intervals with bright sunny days following, pastures, etc., have made good growth, there being good feed everywhere where country has not lxt-n too heavily stocked. Autumn and winter prospects are good. , Pnhiatna.—During the first three weeks of the month there were north-westerly winds, which began to have a bad effect on the autumn feed. The latter part of the month has been like summer, but cold nights and frosts. The latter are causing the maize, to,have a withered appearance. Otherwisj the few warm days liave caused a good growth in the grass. Northern Wairaraba.—Tho weathor has been anything but. good for (his time of the year, and if we do not get warm dry weather shortly stock will suffer in the winter. There is abundance of feed, but it is very soft and watery, and may not withstand the frosts; consequently stock trill suffer. The weather conditions are favourable for turnips and all root crops.

ifastortoii.— The nast season has been one of the most extraordinary ever experienced in this district. There has been ■ practically no summer, and winter seems to have arrived before we linve fairly got into aiitunni. Grass is in abundance, but is lacking in substance. Grain yields have been all exceptionally good, and fair yields are expected from the potato crops. . South Wairarapa.—During" (he early part of the month heavy rains were experienced, with severe frosts, which cut down tils root Fine weather was experienced towards the end .of the month. Poisoning operations are in full force, and rabbits are taking the poison fairly well. Nelson.—Tho pastures and root crops are still looking'well, owing to the showers of rain that fell during the month. There is plenty of feed, and stock are looking well. The grain crops are all harvested, find the threshing machines flic very busy. Potatoes look well, though there is.a little blight in places'. ifavlborongii.—The weather has been most changeable, two or three warm days like summer, (lien a change to-cold and wind and occasional frost, but not hard enough to do harm. A little rain fell during the month, sufficient to freshen pastures, which are looking very well. Winter feed is now assured. | , I ■