BENEFIT TO PASTURES

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 129, 27 November 1929, Page 12

BENEFIT TO PASTURES

DRY SPELL BROKEN

Yesterday's weather forecast to the effect that the meteorological situation favoured general rain filled farmers with hope, and the fulfilment of the prophecy has filled them with joy. Farmers are not the only ones rejoicing in the warm rain, for every city and suburban horticulturist has been finding that the recent dry spell was beginning to affect his flowers and vegetables. Although Wellington has not been as dry as some other parts of the country; notably the- central portion of the South Island, yet November had up to yesterday been very much drier than usual. The whole spring, in fact, has been so dry that the- provision of feed has been' a difficult problem for farmers, the late and cold spring accentuating the difficulty and tending to nullify the effects of copious winter rains. The present rain, a warm one falling on to warm, ground, has come in time to make all the difference, and two or three days of it would not be too much for the land, especially if temperatures remain mild.

Although locally there has been some dry weather this spring, indications point to the year being not far from an average one in respect to rainfall. The normal rainfall for Wellington for the year is 48.11 inches, the monthly averages ranging between three and fivo and a half inches. The total rainfall this year up to 9 a.nu to-day has been 43.50 inches. In June, July, and August this year more rain fell than usual, but since then the fall has been below the average. In September locally 3.29 inches were recorded, and only 2.24 inches in October, the average fall for these two months being 3.99 inches and 4.19 inches respectively. Normally in November about three and a half inches of. rain may be expected, but until the present rainfall began only .73 of an inch had been recorded, rain haying fallen on seven days only. The total of 1.26 inches which has fallen during the 24 hours ending at 9 a.m. to-day brings the month's total up to 1.99, which is 1.45 short of tho average of 3.44. If the year is to be an average one for rainfall, 4.61 inches must fall between now and 31st December. December's average is 3.30 inches.

Last October and November were just the reverse of October and November this year, each being a much wetter month than usual. In October, 1928 thp local rainfall was 5.32 inches and in November 5.16 inches, as against averages of 4.19 inches and 3.44 .inches. The year 1929 began with droughty conditions, January's rainfall being 2.15 inches as against an average of 3.30 inches, and February's only .80 as against an average of 3.19. March and April, however, were wetter than usual. May was another dry month, but winter rains after that were excessive.