ON THE FARMS.

Putaruru Press, Volume II, Issue 13, 10 January 1924, Page 4

ON THE FARMS.

WELCOME RAIN. The bountiful downpour of rain on Friday last was very welcome. The pastures were beginning* to be very noticeably affected by the continued dry weather, and late crops of hay, millett, spring-sown new grass and soft turnips were also being retarded. Friday’s rain has given them a fresh fillip, and is also giving the swede crops, which are mostly sown during the Christmas - New Year period a good start. In most cases good strikes of swedes are reported. Hay paddocks which were shut up right at the beginning of spring did not suffer at all from the dry weather as they had made heavy growth before it became prolonged and thus kept the moisture in the soil, the results in these cases being heavy yields which compare very favourably with past years. LUCERNE CUTS. The second cuts of the lucerne stands are now being made, and the yields in all cases are well up to expectation. One of the heaviest is from Mr. A. Morris’ 12 acres, Overdale, where the second cut, made last week, has given a very big stack of hay. It will be remembered that the first cut filled Mr. Morris’ big silo. The results being obtained throughout the district by the pioneer lucerne growers are leading more and more other farmess each year to establish stands on their farm.® and more than a few new stands have been put in this spring. Generally speaking, good takes were obtained, but the dry' weather hindered the further growth. The subsequent rain is now remedving* this.