432 Meteorology and Agriculture. [Aug., 



METEOROLOGY AND AGRICULTURE. 



Towards the close of 1920 the Agricultural Research Council 

 appointed a Committee to consider the data now furnished by 

 the Meteorological Office, to suggest, what further data if any 

 might seem desirable, and to make recommendations as to the 

 fuller use of the information available in the development of 

 agriculture and fisheries. The Committee's report, which has 

 been adopted by the Council, is (with the exception of the 

 sections relating to fisheries and international organisation of 

 agricultural meteorology) summarised below.* 



There are three ways in which the Meteorological Office assists 

 agriculture, first by providing information as to prevailing or 

 recently prevailing weather, secondly by issuing forecasts of 

 weather to be expected, and thirdly, by research. 



Forecasts and Reports for Farmers. — To the practical farmer 

 the second of these methods of assistance is of most importance. 

 Charts are drawn four times daily at intervals of about six hours, 

 and issued with reports and forecasts. The 6 p.m. chart appears 

 in next day's morning papers., while some of the evening papers 

 publish a forecast for the following day based on the 1 p.m. 

 chart. The Daily Weather Report, containing a copy of the 

 7 a.m. chart together with observations, and giving forecasts 

 for the 24 hours beginning at 3 p.m.. is issued at noon. Further, 

 the Air Ministry issues by wireless twice daily, a general state- 

 ment of the weather conditions and a forecast for the British 

 Isles. In addition wireless reports giving weather observations 

 made only one hour previously at 17 stations in the British Isles 

 are sent out four times in the twenty-four hours in a code to 

 which a key is published.! 



Special agricultural forecasts are also issued by telegraph at 

 a small charge. These include regular daily forecasts and notifi- 

 cations of expected spells of settled weather. 



* The Constitution of the Committee was as follows : Sir Thomas 

 Middleton, K.B.E., C.B., LL.D. (Chairman), Mr. J. 0. Borley, Mr. E. A. 

 Fisher, Mr. J. C. F. Fryer, Mr. R. H. Hooker, Prof. F. Keeble, Mr. H. G. 

 Eichardson, Sir Napier Shaw, Dr. G. C. Simpson ; Mr. W. R. Black, Secretary. 

 A copy of the full report can be obtained on application to the Secretary of 

 the Meteorological Committee. Ministry of Agriculture, 4, Whitehall Place, 

 S.W.I. 



f A pamphlet giving detailed information regarding the use of these 

 wireless messages for agricultural purposes may be obtained from the Air 

 Ministry, Adastral House, Kingsway, London, W.C. % from whom information 

 as to telegraphic forecasts may also be obtained. 



