FARM AND DAIRY.

Taranaki Daily News, 14 December 1916, Page 2

FARM AND DAIRY.

The Akaora Hail states that the very dry weather of the past week ban considerably altered the prospect of this year's cocksfoot crop, and where a few . weeks ago there wrl a' pro:>pre„ of a fair crop the owners find that the growth has neon completely cheeked and weeds are overshadowing the cocksfoot. This is no doubt tin conseqin.<enees of last year's drought as (he paddocks have been hard fed an I (hey have no bottom in them, and Jiey therefore cannot last out the dry neither. In Little River, especially in tiie lower areas, there will be practically no cocksfoot harvested, and thottgn the higher paddocks are a little better it is expected that a crop equal to last yea) will be hard to obtain. Weeds are also coming very strongly, and tlu cocksfoot is taking a von secondary place. This is more marked i:i Little River, though, in the Bays, also, tho lower.paddocks give very pool prospects since the dr> weather set in. Ryegrass seems to be flourishing ii'the Little River district and elsewhere. Good rains might bring the cocksfoot hack, but the dry weather of last year and the hard glazing will be responsible ;"cr a "very poor harvest of cocksfoot mi' Banks Peninsula again this year. The weather ha. l , also resulted in .the early flowering of the cocksfoot, and instead of being later than usual, as it' seemed to bo a few weeks ago the seed has emits to head rapidly, and in- the lower paddoeks reaping should commence at the end of this month s