The Daily News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13. THE LESSON OF THE DROUGHT.

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LI, Issue 46, 13 February 1908, Page 2

The Daily News THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13. THE LESSON OF THE DROUGHT.

There is hardly one suction of the cuiiniry which is not ill the throes of flic drought. •Southland is the most favored district, and it is only the dairy farmers there who arc suffering from its dice's. In tin's island it is tilt- milk-producer wiio-o prospects mi- the most seriously interfoied with. .Many dairy factories mo not turning out half Llie amount of butter and cheese they would do under normal conditions. The output of fat lambs will also show a decrease, vaii"usly estimated from i» to 31) per cent. \\hcrc rnin has lieon siillicicnt to give i turnip* and rape a good start sheep are cluing will, lint the very hitrsll spring gave a set-back to manv lambs which liiev haie never iceovoivd from. The i Wellington 'lime, -ays Unit tiie experience of this season i* teaching fanners the "II lesson that in times of plcnt.t provisiuu should be made for the leu m year,, or when there is an abundance i f Iced the t-ui-jiliifag<? should be conserve.l for winter and dry spells. This specially applies lo the dairy farmer, lie possesses in ensilage a splendid mean- »ft storing fodder, not only fur winter use. j i but for feeding in a lime of drought |< and supplying n succulent feed when | I pastures are drying under the influence i id -miniier. Willi ensilage and hay ill- ■ ways at hand, and given shade and go id I water, tlie dairy farmer should lie inde- I | pendent of droughts and no able to al- j | ways maintain (he normal mill, (low of j his herd. The most economical method i of making- ensilage is an importnn! work nhfiad of our experiment station... for the co-.t of conserving fodder by this ev cellenl means i? the main drawback in connection with it, and is the reason why its use is not extending. The sheep and Jamil j'attcner will continue, no doubt, to depend on turnips and rape, though lucerne, where it can be grown, is a valuable sheep fodder, and if turnip and rape crops are to be cultivated with success in dry weather they must ie planted on the drill system", so as :n enaWe the ground to be kept constantly stirred during their growing stage. (!,',- i natural method of moisture conservation, which is not appreciated as it should be. Apart altogether from the necessity of providing against dry weather conditions, the conservation of feed and thorough cultivation of growing crops are matters which will pay farmers handsomely to attend to by reason of the enhanced returns which would inevitably result. The season is proving disastrous in many respects, and (he position is rendered all (he more unsatisfactory when it is considered that the effects (if the cause could have* T>een largely prv vided against. Our agriculturists will presently realise the absolute necessity oi farming on scientific lines.