234 E. MA-WLET — PHES^OLOGICAX PHEIfOMElsrA 



a yard square, and contains 2J feet of the heaviest soil to be found 

 in the neighbourhood of Berkhamsted, a mixture of clay and flints. 

 It has no grass growing upon it, but is kept constantly hoed on the 

 surface to prevent the formation of cracks. Taking this gauge as 

 a guide, the first drought may be said to have lasted from the 22nd 

 of April to the 10th of June, or for exactly seven weeks, while the 

 second began on the 17th of June and came to an end nine weeks 

 later, on the 1 9th of August. During the dry periods mentioned, 

 no measurable quantity of rain-water came through the soil in this 

 gauge, and for nineteen consecutive days in the first drought, and 

 for thirty -seven consecutive days in the second, no water at all. 

 On July 26th rather more than a quarter of an inch of rain fell, 

 which is equivalent to a gallon and a half on every square yard 

 of sui-face, and yet after this tolerably heavy rainfall my lawns 

 remained nearly as brown as before, showing how extremely dry 

 the soil had previously become. 



Mr. Willis states that at Harpenden the first wheat-ear was out 

 of its sheath as early as June 3rd. 



The black knapweed came first into flower two days in advance 

 of its average date, the harebell three days late, and the greater 

 bindweed eleven days early. 



The Autumn. 



This was a very cold quarter, and also an extremely wet one. 

 A great improvement in the weather, however, took place in 

 JN^ovember, which although also cold, had a small rainfall, and for 

 the time of year a very dry atmosphere and a splendid record of 

 sunshine. During September and October the wind was on several 

 occasions very high, while November, on the other hand, proved 

 on the whole unusually calm. 



The heavy rainfall in September soon made itself evident in the 

 pastures, which, for the first time for several months, were clothed 

 with green herbage. The root-crops were also benefited, so that 

 from this time there was never any lack of keep for the sheep and 

 cattle. At first these rains were also welcomed by the farmer as 

 facilitating the working of the land, and the planting of autumn 

 com, but later on the ground became in such a wet and sodden 

 state that it was not until the very end of October that further 

 cultivation was possible. Fortunately, I^ovember proved fine and 

 dry, and farming operations were then resumed under very favour- 

 able conditions. 



All the wild autumn fruits, such as acorns, the hips of the dog- 

 rose, holly and hawthorn berries, etc., were surprisingly plentiful 

 and fine. Mushrooms and other fungi were also unusually numerous 

 early in the season. 



Judging by the reports which appeared in the ' Agricultural 

 Gazette ' on July 27th, the only really abundant farm-crop in 

 Hertfordshire was that of wheat, whereas all the others were more 

 or less under average, the yield of tui'nips, mangolds, and hay 

 being specially poor. 



