The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1913. A WET DECEMBER.

Stratford Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 90, 16 December 1913, Page 4

The Stratford Evening Post WITH WHICH IS INCORPORATED THE EGMONT SETTLER. TUESDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1913. A WET DECEMBER.

The present exceedingly wet December is having a generally bac) effect on the district. Hoads and tracks, especially in the backblocks, are in a shockingly bad state, and the recent storms, with the almost torrential downpours with which they were accompanied, did considerable damage in many places. The milk supply is undoubtedly affected, and the excessive moisture lias fostered a serious spread of blight among potatoes and tomatoes in the district. It is certain, therefore, that the looked for production of both the latter commodities will bo considerably reduced. Unfortunately the same story comes from other parts, and from Auckland it is reported that serious damage has already been done to the tomato crop, (blight appearing there about t .three weeks ago, and having spread to nearly every garden in which tomatoes are grown, either for the individual household or open market. As is well-known by those who grow tomatoes, the blight which attacks them is similar to that i which attacks potatoes and usually ■ affects the leaves of the plant but does not go further, in the north this year the blight has developed, in the stems of the tomato plant, causing them to blacken and rot away. This is particularly annoying to the growers, as this I year tomatoes grown in the open were I expected to he ready for the market fully a week earlier than in previous I years. So far as local growers are [concerned it is early to say how the tomato crop will be affected, but potatoes are in many instances practically a failure. It may be of interest to tomato growers (if they are not al-j ■ ready aware of it) that a careful spray- j ing with Bordeaux mixture on thej first appearance of black spots on thej [leaf of the plant may check the rava-j ges of the blight.