MUDDIED FLATS

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 69, 12 August 1938, Page 4

MUDDIED FLATS

BEDRAGGLED STOCK LOSS OF, CONDITION <s- - WET SPELL ’ Hi AY SHORTAGE-. FEARED Tuesday’s hrigl.it. day, which Jarmors hope will he the forerunner of a spell, of good weather, carnet after the longest— exasperatTug- wrtr spell in the - memory of the oldest tanners iu the Gisborne district, says the Herald. The countryside on the flats has been left? m a. 'deplorable •=;condition, and people who inspected portions of the flat land i.on 'Tuesday. surprised at the nnul-pocked and watery pastures in all areas. Stock appeared bedraggled and hi jjoor condition, a marked contrast from their appearance when the rain commenced four weeks ago. Both cattle and sheep, except those affected with facial exeema, entered the winter in excellent condition, hut the severe month just passed through has left- its traces on all stock. Sheep appear to have suffered worst.’ The eontinuitv of the rain has

not allowed the fleece to be dry.'for four weeks, and- [their appearance is now" detracted 'by mud -which.'covers most of, the wool. Numbers of dead sheep I 'and lambs fare ' Cattle, too, are mud-covered, ■ and most hfive gone dotyn eollside.rab|y. condition: fv 1 I .<• I - f /Loss ini Spring Feed. ** Much Avater is still lying, about, but at the moment the farmers’ worst enemy is mud. After lour weeks of rain, which fell on every-day except two during that period, /the paddocks are exceptionally soft, and the tramping stock lias churned tip the pastures, which have boon left in a state resembling a: quagmire. • A great loss in spring feed is in-, evitable, for which the paddocks are badly pugged in spring growth of grass .will be slowed, up, although in those - areas where few stuck have, been carried the response should he good if spring conditions are favourable. Many farmers in the district will bo faced with a shortage of hay, the feeding of which was accelerated during the wet spell. The hay was in' good condition, but many, fanners put only sufficient by for .a normal winter, not anticipating that there would be an abnormal demand, and there may not be sufficient to. carry the stock far enough into the spring for the best results.

'• v" ■ Pumpkins and Mangolds.

Large supplies of punipkXns were available on most- farms, but'on several places difficulty was experienced in carting them out to thd stock because of the soft ground. . In niaiiy instances, however, the pumpkins had-, been carted out ready lor use before the wet spell commenced, v,and . these were cut up as required. Pumpkinfeeding paddocks have been badly pugged, but in many cases these will be ploughed up. Mangold crops were a failure last season on a number of farms in the district, as a result of wet weather, but those farmers fortunate enough to have adequate supplies are now finding them of great benefit, Muriwai Stock Losses. Up to last Saturday the countryside between Manutuke and Muriwai and around the Muriwai district presented a most depressing appearance. Areas were under water that have not been covered before. 'Between the mouth of thef*Waipaoa River and the hills the paddocks were completely saturated, and in the lower areas the water was up to 2ft. deep. The access road to the MAiriwai Beach has had a foot of water over it for some days.-,; On Friday the roadway at a bridge 0 n the main highway at Muriwai collapsed across half the road, but was repaired by nightfall. Further slipping occurred on all the hills, and much pasture has been destroyed. , , ' -

Lambs are appearing in largo numbers and there have been numerous losses of both lambs and ewes. The surface water is noyy fast disappearing, and tho wliohi countryside presents a much more pleasant aspect, while outdoor activities, which have been at a minimum, are being resumed.