1907.] Notes on the Weather and Crops. 



181 



week many of the minima w;re as high as the maxima of Sunday and Monday. 

 Three frosts were recorded at Cambridge and Dunmow, the thermometer at the 

 former place falling on one occasion to 24 0 Fahr. 



The Meteorological Office issued with their weather report for the week ending 

 Saturday, May 25th, the following note : — 



" The low temperature prevailing at the commencement of the week under review 

 has attracted much attention, particularly as it presented a striking contrast to the con- 

 ditions which obtained earlier in the month, when the continuance for several days of a 

 southerly wind over France and the British Isles, coupled with a large amount of sunshine, 

 gave rise to temperatures above 8o° at many stations in the eastern part of England. 



" The distribution of pressure accompanying the cold weather was very typical of 

 the conditions usually associated with the cold periods which so frequently occur 

 about the middle of May. The most striking maps were those from Thursday, 

 May 1 6th, to Sunday, May 19th. At the commencement of this period pressure was 

 highest in Iceland and off the west coast of Europe, and lowest over Central 

 Scandinavia. Thus there was a gradient for northerly wind over north-western 

 Europe, and cold air flowed southward from the Arctic Region. On the morning of 

 Friday, May 17th, the depression over Scandinavia had moved eastward, and a 

 small subsidiary depression had developed over the Gulf of Genoa. The gradient for 

 northerly wind now extended from the Arctic Region to the Mediterranean, and its 

 intensity had increased somewhat. During Saturday and Sunday, May 18th and 19th, 

 the general conditions remained unchanged over Great Britain and the Continent. 

 The flow of air to the south was maintained unchecked, and gave rise to some very 

 low temperatures. At most English and Scottish stations the maximum temperature 

 on Sunday, May 19th, was but little, if at all, above 58 0 , and frost occurred at night 

 in many places. On the Continent conditions were equally unfavourable. Even on 

 the shores of the Mediterranean the cold was severe for the time of the year ; at Nice 

 the thermometer did not rise above 54° on May 19th. On the same day the maximum 

 reading was 46 0 at places as far apart as Belfort and Prague, and only 41 0 at Munich. 



" Under the influence of northerly or north-easterly winds and in the absence of 

 much sunshine, temperature remained low generally in the British Isles during the 

 early part of the week, and the week's warmth was "deficient" in all districts and 

 "very deficient" in some. The mean temperature of the air in our two northern- 

 most districts was about one degree below the mean temperature of the sea off the 

 north of Scotland, as recorded at Lerwick, Kirkwall and Wick. Further to the 

 south, the difference between the mean temperature of the air and that of the water at 

 the coast stations was considerably greater, amounting in some cases to nearly 5 0 ." 



The reports from the Board's correspondents show that the effect of the cold 

 weather has not been serious. In Berkshire it is said that though the frost on the 

 19th cut down early potatoes in a few places, the fruit does not seem damaged, while 

 vegetation has made great progress. In Kent it is reported that the sharp frost on 

 that day seems to have done little harm, except to potatoes. Clover and hay look 

 as if the crops would be heavy, A similar good report comes from Wisbech, 

 Cambridge, where, however, it is stated that things are backward. Frost is said 

 to have injured the fruit crop a little. Insect pests are said to be abundant, in spite 

 of extensive spraying. Much more observation is needed on the effects of the weather 

 on the prevalence of insect pests. The Board would be glad to receive reports based 

 on careful observation during the months of June and July. In Lincolnshire, 

 meadows and pastures which at the beginning of the month were in a backward 

 condition were greatly benefited by the thunder rains in the second week. The cold 

 weather about Whitsuntide, however, prevented vegetation making any rapid growth. 

 Night frosts cut down potatoes in low-lying gardens. From Argyllshire it is reported 

 that potatoes began to show through the ground in the last days of the month. Turnips 

 were nearly all sown. The oat crop brairding fairly, but like grass has not the growth 

 it should have, owing to lack of warmth, in consequence of which everything is 

 backward. Lambings all over. The number of yeld ewes is above the average. 



