OFFICIAL REPORT.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXIX, Issue 3229, 27 May 1911, Page 3

OFFICIAL REPORT.

CROPS, PASTURES, AND STOCK

Owing to the dry weather in Canterbury, says the 'Agricultural Journal, the area sown in that province in oats and barley, for early winter feeding, is on a more" than usually extended scale, late rains having enabled farmers to take full advantage of this means of providing early feed, vitally necessary owing to°the comparative failure of root crops in the autumn, clue to unfavorable meteorological conditions which restricted growth and offered favorable conditions for-the development of insect pests. It may be expected that root crops, except in Southland and in some of the lower and heavier lands of Canterbury. will not be more than an equivalent of 25 per cent, of the usual return; and over a very great portion of the North Island) the same unfortunate condition prevails. A farmer .who lias made a practice of producing root-s for winter feed advises the Department that from 150 acres he will not have a yield more than equal to a 25-acre crop of a normal season. The persistence of dry weather also afforded favorable conditions for the -grass-grub to continue its depredations on grass and lately sown crops, even on young crops of cereals, in the South Island. Recent rains and the present mild weather have been timely, and give every promise of relief from; the disheartening conditions previously obtaining. The condition of stock throughout" the greater part of the South Island ■remains satisfactory in spite of the adverse conditions experienced during the -season. Generally winter weather will he faced under far more favorable auspices than could have been anticipated a month or two back.