242 E. MAWLET PHENOLOGICAL PHENOMENA 



The dry weather in December favoured the ctiltivation of the 

 land on the farms, but the persistent rains throughout the whole 

 of January and February almost entirely prevented the further 

 preparation of the soil, or the sowing of any spring corn. On 

 the other hand, the continued mild weather greatly assisted the 

 root-crops left in the ground, and enabled the cattle to remain 

 longer in the fields than is usual at this season. The autumn- 

 sown corn, in spite of the wet weather, continued to make steady 

 progress, and at the end of the quai'ter, notwithstanding the 

 unusual warmth, had not become " winter proud." The frequent 

 rainfall in January and FebiTiary was welcomed, as it served 

 to replenish the ponds and watering-places, which in many 

 places had become qtiite dry. 



The mild and wet winter favoured the green vegetables in the 

 kitchen-garden, which remained plentiful throughout the season. 

 But, owing to the cold weather in the autiuun, there was an 

 unusually small number of flowers to be found in the flower- 

 garden early in the winter. 



The earliest plants to flower, such as the winter-aconite, 

 snowdrop, etc., made theu* appearance unusually early in the 

 year. At Berkhamsted the winter- aconite first showed an open 

 flower on January 7th, which is twelve days earlier than its 

 average date in the same spot for the previous seventeen years, 

 and, with two exceptions, earlier than in any of those years. At 

 Watford the winter-aconite was out on the 4th of January. 



Taking the county as a whole, the first flowers appeared on 

 the hazel two days earlier than the average date for the previous 

 thirty years. 



The song-thrush was first heard after the beginning of the 

 year, eleven days in advance of its mean date ; whereas the 

 honey-bee was first seen to visit flowers eleven days later 

 than usual. 



The Spring. 



A very changeable season as regards temperature. There 

 occurred two very cold periods, one at the end of March and 

 the other at the end of April and beginning of May, but at 

 no time during the quarter did the exposed thermometer show 

 more than 16 degrees of frost. In all three months the rainfall 

 was deficient, while the record of bright sunshine at Berkham- 

 sted exceeded the average by about twenty minutes a day. 



This proved a very trying spring to the fai'mer, owing to the 

 unworkable condition of the ground throughout nearly the 

 whole season. In March the soil was too cold and wet, and in 

 April too hard and dry. In May, however, the weather was for 

 a time more favourable, but on no occasion was the land in 

 a really good condition for sowing spring corn. Consequently, 

 at the end of the quarter very little progress had in most places 

 been made. The autumn - sown corn, notwithstanding the 



