75 



work until the hard dry weather of February, with a rainfall of 

 0.714in. only, against the 71 year average of 1.889in. for this 

 month, broug-ht the furrow into a splendid condition for the 

 spring working-. The complete change in the soil condition 

 effected by the February weather is well illustrated by a com- 

 parison of the drain-gauge figures for this month and January. 

 In January the drainage through all three gauges was in 

 excess of the rainfall in consequence of the saturated state of 

 the soil in December and the early snow-drifts on the gauges in 

 January : the rain was 2.90in. and the drainage (60in. gauge) 

 3.20in. ; while the February rain was 0.71 in. and the drainage 

 (60in. gauge) only 0.09in. Only 12.2 per cent, of the rain had 

 percolated in February against an average of 75 per cent, for 

 this month. However, the dryness of the February brought no 

 relief to the struggling cereal crops. 



The weather in March was well suited to cultivation : there 

 were long spells of brilliant sunshine (no less than 56 per cent, 

 over the average), a low rainfall, but with ground frosts each 

 night except for a period of six days towards the end. 

 In consequence barley was drilled under particularly favour- 

 able conditions in the latter half of the month. This was 

 a general experience, many heavy land farmers never having 

 seen spring corn go in so well. The frosts continued beyond 

 the middle of April, and made the spring one of the latest 

 within living memory. Later in April came milder and better 

 weather; clover began to fill up after the long winter, barley 

 made a good start, but winter corn was still backward, and oats 

 in particular had lost much plant. With May the ground became 

 much warmer, and by the end of the month the 12in. soil thermo- 

 meter had risen by 10° F. to 58.8° F. May was, however, 

 persistently wet. There were only 7 days on which no rain 

 fell, and the total fall of 4.63in. was 2.58in. in excess of the 

 monthly average. Weeds grew fast in the corn, and barley 

 was checked by the wet conditions and the lack of sunshine. 

 Rain continued during the first half of June and seriously inter- 

 fered with hoeing, the very foul condition of Broadbalk being 

 largely due to this cause. The second half of the month was 

 warm and less wet. Clover promised excellent crops all over the 

 farm, but some had been laid by the storms. Grass was growing 

 too fast for the sheep on the grazing plots, although the stocking- 

 was heavier than in previous years. The first half of July con- 

 tained the only period during the whole year that could properly 

 be described by the name of summer — the nine days, July 8th- 

 16th. The backward plants of wheat came on surprisingly well 

 and gave promise of a fair crop. Hay making proceeded with- 

 out any serious check, the coming of the fine spell at hay time 

 being one of the few good features of the season. Crops were 

 large, the unmanured meadow hay on Great field yielding 32 

 cwt. , while the clover on Long Hoos averaged 42 cwt. per acre. 



With the passing of the 9 fine days wet weather set in again ; 

 the aftermaths freshened up rapidly and regular plants of swedes 

 and mangolds showed excellent promise although the mangolds 

 needed sun. 



