The Rainfall

The Tumut Advocate and Farmers & Settlers' Adviser

(By George Clout sr.)

6 March 1923

The drought is still with us, the month of February being a perfect blank , as regards rainfall. Matters are now bearing a very serious aspect.

A partial failure of the tobacco crop, an almost total failure of the maize, the blow to the dairying industry, and the meagre prospect for grass during the ensuing winter places the men on the land in a position that is not to be envied.

I have before me the rainfall record for "Rosemount" for the past 34 years, and that shows that the rain fall for the last six months - i.e., the six months ending February 28 - was the driest six months for that period during the whole of the 34 years.

For the benefit of any of your readers who may feel interested, I quote a few figures. The rain fall for 1922-23, from September to February, both months included, was 623 points only.

For the same six months in 1902-03, which, in some parts of the State was the most severe drought ever experienced, it was 863. For 1914-15, another year of perishing drought, the rainfall for the same six months was 696.

I also give the totals for the years mentioned, which show that last year, taken as a whole, had a much more liberal rainfall than the droughty years referred to above:-

1902, 1869; 1914, 1775; 1921, 2984 ; 1922, 2978.

Six Months' Drought, Worst for 34 Years

The Wyalong Advocate and Mining, Agricultural and Pastoral Gazette

16 March 1923

Gunadagai. - The drought is very serious. At Tumut there is a partial failure of the tobacco crop and almost a total failure of the maize.

Mr. George Clout, sen., of 'Rosemount," who has attended 40 annual shows at Tumut without a break, has kept a record of the rainfall, which shows that the six months ending February 28 were the driest for 34 years.