70 



The Bothamsted Wheat Experiments. 



seed-time to harvest was there an average excess of any 

 importance, namely, in January. With this great deficiency 

 of average temperature, there appears, almost throughout, 

 an excess of rain, the excess being very much the greater in 

 April, and afterwards up to harvest, than previously. The 

 number of rainy days is also greatly in excess, especially in 

 the summer months. Very low productiveness was, then, 

 associated with both low temperatures and excess of rain, 

 especially during the periods of more active above-ground 

 growth and ripening. 



In Table XIV. the column A refers to the six seasons of 

 much both grain and straw; the column B to the four 

 seasons of much grain but not much straw ; the column C to 

 the four seasons of low produce. The averages are made up 

 from different periods, as noted at the foot of the table, and 

 all the figures are deduced from the records at Greenwich. 

 The wheat season is, of course, from October to September. 



TABLE XIV. SUMMARY OF TEMPERATURE AND OF RAINFALL. 



* In the first line the average temperature is that of 108 years 1771-1878. In the 

 second line the average rainfall is that of 63 years 1815-1877. In the third line 

 the average number of days is that of 55 years 1815-1869. 



From the comparisons which have now been made of the 

 various seasons, it would appear that mildness and com- 

 parative dryness, of at any rate considerable portions of the 

 winter and early spring, favouring root development, that is, 

 an extended possession of the soil by the plant, and a some- 

 what early start, have been the characteristics of the most 

 productive seasons. Indeed, with these favourable early 

 conditions, an abundant and high-yielding crop may be 



