DROUGHT IN OTAGO.

King Country Chronicle, Volume V, Issue 347, 22 March 1911, Page 5

DROUGHT IN OTAGO.

Nortli Otago is suffering from an abnormally dry season. Herbage is burnt to the roots, sheep are skin and bone, dairy stock has been culled and sold for as low as 30a a head, and one farmer shot his herd, so disheartened was he. In 90 per cent, of the land sown in grass the labour is wasted, says the "New Zealand Times." In these days of rural enlightenment it is rather remarkable that modern methods of production under dry climate conditions have not been attempted in the North Otago country. The undulating nature of the greater part of the area puts irrigation out of the question. Conservation of the moisture available is, therefore, imperative, and this should be the objective of the farmers of the district. A modified system of dry-farming would work wonders, and were this combined with green manuring moisture would be most effectively conserved, and humus, which the district badly needs, would be provided at the same time. In this connection the work of the Moumahaki Experiment Station this year provides a striking lesson. To add humus to the light soil of the station green manuring was adopted. A drought was experienced, just the condition to demonstrate the double eJl'ect of the turned-in vegetation. The result was magical. The crops are exceptional for an ordinary year, but in this dry season the yields are astonishing. Of course, this modern method of assisting nature was further strengthened by a proper system of crop management—stirring of the soil during the growth of the crop, to keep down undesirable plants and to conserve moisture. Were the example of Moumahaki followed in North Otago not only would the crop be assured, but as good a yield would be obtained from one acre as is now secured from ten years. Thus the extra cost of a big yield from a small area for a comparatively low return. Not, only this but the cropped land would be improved, while the other nine acres would fie available for grazing purposes. If North Otago farmers are to cease being the sports of their peculiar environment they must adopt more enlightened methods, of which the Government Experiment Station at Moumahaki has provided i the key.