17 



deal of haulm, and the aftermath of the grass came on well. Horse 

 and hand hoeing were carried on frequently but under difficulties, the 

 weeds commonly rooted again by the rain. Sprouts and Savoys were 

 planted out by the 15th on their own ground and in the gaps in the 

 swede crop. August began with two days of heavy rain, 1,7 inches 

 falling, and showery weather followed during the first fortnight, so 

 that the cut corn did not dry and could not be carted. Fortunately 

 the weather was cool, so that no great amount of sprouting occurred in 

 the shock. Fine, warm weather came later and enabled the corn to be 

 got in. Much of the corn being lodged, the harvest was slow and expen- 

 sive, and a good deal of hand cutting was necessary on the bad spots. 

 The fine weather continued throughout September, so that the end of 

 the harvest was attended with little difficulty. Sufficient rain fell to 

 soften the land for ploughing, and a beginning was made with the work 

 for next season. Much of the wheat suffered from smut, the seed by 

 an oversight not having been pickled. The yield of barley was poor, 

 being only 3^ quarters. Potatoes, however, did well. 



During the season 1913-1914 the top or western half of Broadbalk 

 had been left fallow in order to check the widespread growth of 

 weeds, the chief of which was Alopecurus agrestis (Slender Foxtail). 

 It received its autumn manures but no spring dressings. In the 

 following season 1914-1915 it received no dung or autumn manures, 

 but had the spring dressings as usual in 191 5. 



The lower or eastern half of the field had been cropped in 1913- 

 1914, but it was left fallow in 1914-1915 : during this period it received 

 no autumn or spring manures. As June was very dry the fallowing 

 did not prove entirely effective in killing the weeds. 



OCTOBER, 1915, TO SEPTEMBER, 1916. 



In this season the corn crops gave considerable promise, but in the 

 end their yields were disappointing, there being more straw than grain. 

 The potato crop did badly. 



The season opened well. October was a fine month; the rocts 

 continued to grow and grass yielded a bountiful aftermath. The cattle 

 flourished, and towards the end of the month were brought into the 

 yards off the grass. Ploughing was pushed on, the oats were sown and 

 everything was ready for wheat when unfortunately on the 23rd the 

 fine weather came to an end and the rain started. Broadbalk Field was 

 drilled on November 4th and 5tbi with Squareheads Master, which 

 went in very well, but a heavy storm on the nth and 12th brought 

 i\ inches of rain, and this being followed by snow put an end to wheat 

 drilling, so that part of Little Hoos Field had to be left. In spite of 

 these storms October and November had on the whole been drier than 

 usual, but November had been distinctly colder : — 



