RECOVERY LIKELY

Gisborne Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20131, 28 December 1939, Page 8

RECOVERY LIKELY

FIELD CROP DAMAGE MAIZE COBS SAVED LEAVES IN RIBBONS DOUBT ABOUT PUMPKINS Although many of the field crops damaged by Tuesday afternoon’s disastrous hailstorm at Patutahi hear a battered appearnce, it is thought that a large majority of them may recover sufficiently to produce a fair crop. This impression was formed after an inspection was made early this afternoon of some of the Bushmere crops -lose io hie riverbank opposite Patutahi. This area suffered very severely, the leaves of the previously fine maize crops waving in shrfcds and tiic main stems alone being left on the uppermost portions of the plants. However, the central portions of the plants where the first of the cobs are making their appearance seem to be undamaged, for they .vere protected somewhat from the hail by the other foliage. The maize is still making growth, and it is thought that quite fair crops - should be secured. Life in Pumpkins Yet

There is some doubt, however, about, the recovery of pumpkin crops in the most badly ravaged area. Here, again, little more than the n ain stems of the leaves remained in many cases, but a favourable: sign was that some of (he runners stih appeared to retain life. Most of the .stems, however, wc-re badly battered and gashed by the hail, and looking at them observers wondered whether (he plants would survive. Ryegrass seed crops were flattened in many paddocks, the seed heads lying fiat upon the ground in vast patches, making the problem of cutting a difficult one. There is the likelihood of the seed heads lifting i nder the influence of the wind and with some sunshine later on, hut the cutting will not be easy, because of the flattened urdergrcwili. Cutting of Seed

Despite the damage, one paddock of seed was being cut his afernoon. and arrangements are being made for the other paddocks to receive the mower when the seed is sufficiently ripe.

The Bushmere damage was confined to a narrow strip close to the riverbank near the Waerenga-n-hika end of the Bushmere road, and Messrs. K. Cameron and C. Tietjen appear to be the heaviest losers in icgard to maize. Less than half a mile away very little damage was done, and a mile distant there are no signs of a disastrous storm having passed over the district. Some fine crops of maize are to be seen in parts of the Bushmere road area, the heads of the maize stalks being well above the fence-tops.