CROPS THREATENED

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 36, 5 November 1937, Page 10

CROPS THREATENED

-Press Aasdciation.)

Marlborough Drought PROLONGED DRY SPELL

(By Telegrai>h-

I BLENHEIM, x Last' Night, Unless soaking. rain falls in a week 5000 acres of crops in Marlborough will be virtUally ruined in csxsequence of the prolonged spell of dry weather, It is .six weeks since rain exceeding tha fraction of an inch has fallen and the gauging for nine weeks totals only 164 poinfs, October contributed only 17 points, being the driest October since 1914. The total rainfall for the year to date has boen 17.34 inches. Agriculturarfarmers and pastoralista alike are worried but the main anxiety is felt by growers of peas, wheat, barley, oats and small seeds. Fortunately in one sense the acreage under crop is 6maller than usual this year on aceount of the general turnover to shecp in consequence of the greater assurance of good prices* for meat and wool,- but tho drought threat all the same representa a serious menace to the district 's income from tho approaching harvest. According to mef chants and • farmers interviewed to-day much is expected of the irrigatioi scheme for- the Wairau plain which the Public Works Departtnent has been investjgating 'for the past two years.