December^ however, brought a great change, and again as in 1914 

 it was very wet, there being 5.1 inches of rain. Rain fell on 25 days 

 out of the 31 as compared with 17, the average ; the weather, however, 

 was mild, the mean temperature being 41°.! as compared with 38°. 3, the 

 average of 35 years. Ploughing was considerably delayed, and a good 

 deal of grass began to grow in the wheat on Broadbalk. January was 

 also mild, the mean temperature being 43°. 8 against the average 36 ".9 ; 

 rain fell frequently, though the aggregate amount was somewhat below 

 the average. The driUing of wheat was resumed in Little Hoos Field 

 on the 17th, and thus we were able to make a comparison of the effects 

 of late and early sowing. The really cold weather began in February 

 and was accompanied by much rain, and from the 22nd onward by 

 snow which, falling on the already sodden ground, did much harm to 

 the crops. March was very similar in character ; the snow persisted 

 until the 12th, having been about for three weeks. A wholly excep- 

 tional snow blizzard occurred in the afternoonandeveningof March 28th, 

 bringing down hundreds of trees in the neighbourhood and almost 

 clearing several acres of the wood adjoining Sawpit Field ; the trees 

 blocked the roads, and for a long time hindered travelling. The snow 

 and rain caused considerable injury to the crops and gravely prejudiced 

 the prospects for spring sowing. 



April, however, was much better, being drier and warmer than the 

 average ; May began well, and after a spell of rain in the middle some 

 really hot weather set in, making a splendid start for the new summer 

 time, which began on the night of May 20th-2ist, when the clock was 

 put forward an hour so as to give more hours of dayhght. The farm 

 hands, however, preferred the old time, as also did the Meteorological 

 observers ; the records were therefore taken as usual at 9 a.m. on sun 

 lime, though it was 10 a.m. by legal time. So the farm hours remained 

 from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. by sun time, but from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. by 

 legal time. This arrangement was in force till the night of 

 September 3oth-0ctober ist, when the clock was put back an hour 

 iind sun time once more became legal time. 



Unfortunately the fine weather of the end of May was not kept up ; 

 June opened with a cold, dull day, and remained colder and duller than 

 any previous June since our records began in 1878 ; the mean tempera- 

 ture was only 5I^8, and the hours of sunshine 136.7 against average 

 values of 57 ".3 and 197.8 respectively. Much of the local apple blossom 

 was ruined. July was warmer, however, and there was rain on the 

 1 2th and 13th, followed by fine hot weather. August began with rain^ 

 but was mainly dry, warm and cloudy, the hours of sunshine being 

 174.4 against an average of 198-6 ; it was a good month for harvesting, 

 which began on the 7th and went through without intermission. 

 September was fine, and the harvest being over early, we were able to 

 start ploughing at the beginning of the month, and get a great deal of 

 it done before the end. Thus the season closed with the work well in 

 hand for next year. 



The crop position looked very satisfactory, better indeed than it 

 actually was. In view of the need for increased food production we 

 have given a spring dressing of i cwt. of sulphate of ammonia and 2 cwts. 

 of superphosphate to practically the whole of the corn crops. Admir- 

 able growth followed ; the crops were very heavy, and when the harvest 

 was l)rought home there was such an array in our stacks as had not 

 been seen for many years, overflowing from the Dutch barn and yards 



