10 Aug., 1916.] Victorian Rainfall. 50 < 



dry cows, for it pays to have your cows come in half fat. Even if it 

 cost you 10s. per head more for grass, the cow will be worth lOs. more 

 to look at, let alone the extra money she will give you, because she is 

 in good condition in the spring. 



This is not written to puff up any particular farm or district; what 

 Mr. Bland has done, any ordinary dairy farmer can do. The only 

 unusual feature was the mild winter of 1915. There is no expensive 

 machinery to be got, no cutting, carting, and hand feeding of green 

 stuff. Do as he and others have done. Look ahead; start putting in 

 crop early, subdivide farm, and have some definite plan to work to 



VICTORIAN RAINFALL. 



Second Quarter, Year 1916. 



During April the rainfall in the north and north-western areas was 

 very small, and was much below requirements, but the remainder of 

 the State fared much better, more especially in the north-east and 

 central districts. The early rains were the results of tropical disturb- 

 ances and benefited the eastern districts only ; but the remainder of the 

 disturbances being Antarctic in character were of especial benefit to 

 the southern areas mainly. An extremely dry month was experienced 

 in May, and only about half of the usual quantity of rain was received, 

 the greatest deficiency occurring in the western and Wimmera districts. 

 This was an extremely cold month, and frosts were very prevalent toward* 

 the end, there being six consecutive days of frost which penetrated to 

 most inland districts except Gippsland. Frost visitations of so early a 

 character, and so severe a nature, have been unknown in Victoria in 

 the past, and these constitute a record for severity and frequency in 

 May. The month of June was extremely favorable, both with regard 

 to the amount of rain and the period over which the falls extended, 

 almost general i-ains being experienced on nineteen days ; except in 

 Gippsland and parts of the central south, the amounts were much above 

 the normal, northern Mallee and the northern Wimmera showing the 

 greatest excesses. Owing to a large amount of dry grass and a slight 

 mixture of green, Mallee stock in Apr'l, though falling away, ^vere still 

 in fair to good condition. The chief concern was for the welfare of the 

 lambs as the dry feed would not be conducive to progress. The same 

 applies to parts of the west; elsewhere etock were in splendid condition. 



In north-western areas the water supply was deficient. Water was 

 also scarce in these parts during May, and water cartage had com- 

 menced. Stock were fair to good, and in the west much sown grain 

 had germinated, but had died off. Potato yields were generally satis- 

 factory except in the north-central. At the end of June, owing to the 

 abundance of rains, grass was plentiful, the crope were showing up well 

 above the ground, but in the Wimmera the sowiiijj had to be deferred 

 and most of the cro,ps in this district will lie late. Complaints with 

 regard to want of water for stock and domestic purposes have now 



