WHAT THE DROUGHT IS DOING.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXI, Issue 9054, 13 February 1908, Page 5

WHAT THE DROUGHT IS DOING.

A CRITICAL SITUATION. OPINIONS FROM VARIOUS SOURCES. Whatever poetry azure skies and sunny days may have for urban dwellers, when such days are a dispensation of four or more months' duration, the man on the land sees little in them for pleasant reflection. Disgust is rapidly turning to dismay with farmers, and naturally townspeople are becoming anxious as to the prospects for the immediate future. Yesterday a Wairarapa Age reporter interviewed a number of prominent farmers ani business m(!ii to ascertain how the drought was affecting them now, and how much it was likely to do so during the year. From the general tone of their observations it will be seen that just now matters are, with one or two exceptions, in an embryonic stage.. Just how bad matters will ultimately be will depend on the meteorological conditions. An early and heavy downfall of rain would possibly achieve wonders on pastures, and, as a corollary, business would receive a filip it badly needs in some quarters. THE DAIRY INDUSTRY is undoubtedly in a very bad way, and pastures have reached that stage now when rain will need to be very heavy or continuous to revive them, and then it will be some little time before any material benefit would accrue. Speaking to an official of the local dairy factory, the reporter learnt that all manner cf means are being resorted to by dairy farmers to keep up their milk supply, and cows are being sustained on special diet, for milk-producing purposes. Pastures are doing no more than keeping the animals in condition, and the yield of milk is from one-third to a half what it was at this season last year. Cheese factories will not ,ifc. is certain, be able to continue working up to their usual time of the season, and some may close at any time.

THE AGRICULTURAL OUTLOOK. The backward condition of rape and turnip crops has been so oftan commented upon of late that it is almost superfluous to reiterate that rain would be of incalculable benefit. Some fine fields of turnip 3on the Upper Opaki and on the Upper Plain, and others to the eastward of Masterton, are now at the critical stage when rain will just save them. Mr F. Buick has a verdant paddock of some thirty acres which contrast vividly with the yellow grasay surroundings, and Mr W. H. Buick has also a fine crop which is just beginning to show signs of the trying ordeal of sultry days green foed i 3 undergoing. Numerous paddocks have the seed lying in tham, manure and all, just as they were sown, and it will be interesting to see how they will fare when rain does come.

Where swedes and turnips have attained any size, they are just beginning to harden. Mr Win. Perry, of Penrose, stated that swedes are commencing t,o blight, and Mr W. C. Buchanan said that he noticed areas of blighted rape in the direction of Te Whiti. Other settlers complain of the same thing, and grass seed sowing is quite out of the question just yet, which means that time hangs heavy on the farmers' hands at a period when he should be busy. The unfortunate "forward delivery" buyer is keenly regretting his purchases under the cirumstanc.es related, and some very heavy individual losses have occurred, and probably will occur through lack of fattening pastures. AMONG THE TRADESPEOPLEBUTCHERS. "It is a positive conundrum to us to ascertain where- we are likely to get out winter beef from," said Mr Ogilvy, when spoken to on the subject of live stock. "Such a large amount is being sent away that it will be a difficult matter indeed for us to pick up our forty and fifty bead at a time, as we are accustomed t> do. Prices must advance in the winter, as it will be a case of buying in threes and fours —always an experisive'thing to a butcher."

Mr F. Holloway was equally pessimistic in his remarks. "Our paddocks are as bare as that road," he said, pointing to Queen street macadarp, "a d it will be a game of chasing all over the country for beef."

Sheep are doing fairly well under the circumstances, but everything depends on rain, and an early downpour may avert further depletion of flocks, and lessen the chances of dear mutton. UNIVERSAL PROVIDERS. The head of one of Masterton's largest retail emporiums embracing various dry goods lines, expressed opinions which are applicable to the general view of tradespeople in those businesses. "So far we have noticed little if any effect in the volume of business done. It is in the winter we anticipate that money/will be tight, and business consequently suffer. Butter, as everyone knows, must advance to an abnormal price, and the London sales just now will tend to still further harden it. "Grass seed is being looked at, but not bought. Farmers cannot do anything with it just now, but for cocksfoot we anticipate a heavy demand as soon as the drought fairly breaks up. Cheese factories will be unable to fulfil their contracts with us, and cheese will no doubt be higher than ev<±r before. Oats will not be sensationally dear, as southern quotations are now on the cheap side. THE VEGETABLE MARKET. This, as must be patent to all, is in a chaotic state. "Our potatoes are not potatoes," paradoxically remarked one prominent farmer, who puts down a good area in tubers. "They are potato tops with peas underground." Of course, he wa3 referring to the size of the tubers. Potato crops will be absolute failures in many cases, as the total absence of moisture has been fatal. Cabbages and other greens are not escaping the baneful influence of the solar heat and lack of moisture, and gardens are,

one might truthfully say, hopelessly | languishing. AUCTIONEERS. It is only to be expected that auctioneering firms, being so intimately in tou:h with farmers' business, would be able to gauge fairly accurately the extent of the mischief being caused by the drought. Several were approached, and the opinion of an authoritative salesman is that the evil from drought has been rather exaggerated. "We are not doing the same volume of business as we were at this season last year, but prices, considering the state of pastures, are not at all bad. Our last sale brought £2 15s for eighteen month and twoyear steers, and I cannot conceive of a person buying good cattle at the low prices alleged to have been paid recently by private buyers. Private selling is being resorted to now very much, but buyers are cautious." ' IMPLEMENT MAKERS. Mr W. K. Duncan, of Messrs P. and D. Duncan, Ltd., was in town yesterday, and he stated that the bottom has been knocked clean OJt of the implement business for a time. His opinion was endorsed by loi.al firms, who aver that the'hardness of the ground haa rendered agricultural operations out of all question. LABOUR'S REMARKS. "Dead as a doornail," expressively replied a local labour bureau proprietor, to the reporter's query on the condition of the market. "Contract ploughmen and contract fencers have fairly besieged employers for work, but whjit can be done with the ground in it present baked condition?" This was certainly a poser for the pressman. THE BAKER'S POSITION. Messrs J. S. Alpass and E. Pelling were aske.l to give their version of the position they stood in and were likely to be found in as a result of the drought. "Potatoes art dear," replied Mr Alpass, "and this, with dear horse-feed, means a larger disbursement for th? bakers. Money wilt also be tighter in winter, without doubt, uniess things brighten up considerably." , Truly there are many anxious eyes cast daily skywards for the rainclouds which will not come.