THE PRESENT SEASON.

Wairarapa Age, Volume XXXII, Issue 10138, 8 November 1910, Page 5

THE PRESENT SEASON.

UNUSUALLY BACKWAKD

SPRING

An unusually backward spring is reported by the officers of the Agricultural Department in all part? of the Dominion, accentuated in Canterbury and Otago by a long-con-tinued absence of ran, which is imperilling pastures and crops. High drying winds and low temperature have prevailed generally. As a consequence stock in all parts of the Dominion is suffering in condition, notwithstanding the advantage gained by a mild winter. Ewes and lambs particularly are showing the ill effects of short pastures and scarcity of fodder crops, and the prospects for the , fat-lamb season are the reverse of encouraging. M ikh cows have so far not been so much affected, the principal dairying districts having experienced somewhat less unfavourable conditions than those which generally prevailed in the pastoral and agricultural districts, while better provision of feed has been made. The milk supply, except in a few localities, is considerably larger than at the beginning of last season. The need for rain, however, is becoming acute. An early and copious fall, with warmer temperature, would quickly mend matter?, and give farmers a good season. Most of the autumnsown crops have made fair progress, but the spring : sown are generally weak in growth, and rain is needed to enable root and fodder crops to be sown. The lambing has on the average been satisfactory in percentage of increase, and the wool-clip promises to be good..