MASTERTON NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 72, 27 March 1933, Page 13

MASTERTON NOTES

THE DRY SPELL

Although some welcome rain has fallen in the past week the rriidWairarapa district is still in need of a good downpour, as the season has been the driest for some years and there is no surplus feed for the winter. A considerable area of country, in fact, is actually short of feed at the present time. Although usually affected to a greater extent in dry seasons the East Coast district this year has experienced comparatively favourable weather.

In the dry conditions, pests have increased somewhat, and rape, swede, and turnip crops are suffering, in some cases severely, from the attentions of the white butterfly and the diamond-back moth. The white butterfly is very numerous towards the coast, where a good deal of damage is being. done, although, it is stated, the diamond-back moth has a lot to answer for. This moth is particularly numerous in crops this season, rising in thousands when disturbed by a passer-by. One farmer, referring to the pests prevalent this season, places the diamond-back, moth first, the aphis second, and the whitu butterfly third.

About 20,000 bulbs have just been planted by the Masterton Beautifying society on reserves adjoining the i\ or thorn Approach, at the north end of Queen Street. The bulbs were donateVl to the society by residents of the town and district. The planting of the bulbs was carried out by the unemployed.