GOOD RAIN

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2509, 12 October 1915, Page 8

GOOD RAIN

OFFICIAL REPORTS

PROSPECTS VERY GOOD

The following special reports from field" inspectors 011 the effect of last week's rains, liavo been received by tlie Secretary for Agriculture (Mr.. i\ S. Pope), and will be read with interest. The reports from districts in and -hear the \, Wellington Province are as follow: —

-.. Blenheim: "Good rain .has been falling for twenty-four hours, crops are very good, and thi6 rain is all that was needed to onsure good harvest. Pastures are very fair and stock is in excellent condition. Tip to the present there is no fear, for this district."

"Carterton.—"All crops and pasture greatly benefited-by rains. :At sales to-day-sheep much firmer.. Cattle, £1 to 30s. advance.". : ■

:., Paliiatua: ; "E«cent rains will ' causo the prospects of crops, pastures, and stock to be most favourable, particularly in the Akitio County.". WaipuWirau.—"Light warm rain has fallen for 24 hours, will bs of great benefit to crops and pastures; has penetrated at least three inches. Shorn sheep or new born lambs won't "suffer. Quite .mild up to the present." ' Hastings.—"Less than half an inch of rain, recorded; will have ah appreciable effect on crops, etc.. for a time. Much more rain is required as the subsoil is exceptionally dry." Wairoa. —"Country-looking well here, but recent drying winds been -detrimental. Mild rains have now fallen with beneficial effect, pastures much benefited,. but the advantages would have been much greater had the . fall been heavier."

-Taupo.—"Warm, showery weather. Crops doing exceptionally well. Stock doing well. Good percentace of lambs." . Gisborne.—"The rain will be of great valuo to crops, stock, etc. The crops and grass were looking ,well before the present rainfall." ■ ' ! Opotiki:—"No heavy rains for the last fortnight; the crops are not affect ed. Oat crops looking well; There is nn .abundance of food throughout the district; and stock in all instances looking well. Maize not yet. planted." Tauranga.—"Recent warm rains have been beneficial to cereals, and pastures. Stock in .good" condition. Weather is now muttgy.. ' There is evidence of potato, blight." ..

; : The'reports , from the South Island are generally' satisfactory, although in some localities a .-further; rainfall - was regarded, as necessary to'save the situation. " The report of tlie'Fields Inspector at Middlemarch, whose districtitakes in portions of. tte following counties: Tn.ieri, Tuapelca, Wailiimo, Manitoto, and Waikouaiti, was as follows"This rain would creatly help pastures which were parched, also grain crops which were standing still for want of moisture. It would also lielp pastoral countrv in freshening up the native grasses. Ewes were leaving their lambs 'as soon as tlronped, as they had no milk, caused by hire pastures. The general outlook is improved, hut by no means saved, as a general rain •is necessary here every two weeks to ensure any abundance of feed, or a liberal crop of cereals." "■../■

The reports from Clyde, Pembroke. Uanfurly, Oamarii, Waimate, .Timaru! Ashburton, and' Lincoln were all of a favourable character.-