244 



Notes on the Weather and Crops. [july, 



During the second week the general condition was again very unsettled. Warmth 

 was "unusual " in England E. and N.E., but the rainfall was " heavy" in the N,E. 

 In the western section of the United Kingdom sunshine was "scanty" or "very 

 scanty," with "heavy" or " very heavy " rainfall. The eastern section, as a rule, 

 recorded " moderate " sunshine. The wind during the week was fresh to stormy. 



The weather remained in a very unsettled state in all the more western and 

 northern districts during the third week, with frequent and in some cases heavy falls 

 of rain. In the east and south of England, however, it was finer and drier than for 

 some time past. The temperature was, however, everywhere below the average. In 

 the eastern section of the United Kingdom the warmth was "deficient" with one 

 exception, and in the whole of the western section and in England S. it was "very 

 deficient." Frost was experienced at some of the northern stations. 



It was again cold and unseasonable in the fourth week of June, with a generally 

 cloudy sky and frequent falls of rain. Thunderstorms occurred in many places,, 

 sometimes of great severity. Hail fell in several quarters, and on one occasion snow 

 fell in Harrogate. Rainfall was above the average in most districts, the excess being 

 large in many parts of the kingdom. The warmth recorded was "deficient" in 

 England E. and N.E. In every other district it was " very deficient." Sunshine- 

 was "scanty" in England E. and midland counties, and "very scanty" in England 

 S. and S.W. The wind was fresh or strong in the southern and south-western, 

 district, and on one occasion reached the force of a gale. Frost was registered in 

 several places on the grass. 



In view of the foregoing cheerless record it is noteworthy that none of the Board's, 

 correspondents have sounded a pessimistic note in regard to the crop and fruit 

 prospects. In northern Lancashire it is recorded that the continued heavy rains and lack, 

 of warmth have now definitely made the season backward. On some farms potatoes, 

 are yet to be planted, the garden crops are a fortnight late, and no strawberries had', 

 been picked by the end of the month. No grass had been cut at the date of writing.. 

 In exposed positions there had been some mortality among the lambs. In Berkshire,, 

 everything is recorded as backward and the hay is damaged. Roots are not much 

 damaged by fly however, and the most serious statement is that the prospects for fruit 

 and cereals will be bad unless we get more sunshine. The report from Kent is even 

 more satisfactory. Everything • is recorded as backward but no serious damage is 

 stated to have occurred. Many of the fruit crops are said to be good, and though, 

 insect pests are prevalent in places, hops are fairly free from mildew and insects.. 

 Damage by frosts is recorded. The news from Scotland is of a similar nature.. 

 Everything backward, but very little damage done as yet. The cry everywhere is for 

 more warmth and sunshine. Fruit has been retarded by the cold and rain, and the- 

 green fly appears to thrive in the wet condition of things. It is noticeable that they 

 suck the underside of the leaves during a continued rainfall. The Board would be 

 glad to receive, during the month of July, any observations on the influence of the 

 weather on the progress of the root crops and the turnip fly. 



As is recorded elsewhere, the Board issued, in the last week in June, a notice to 

 the effect that in view of the unseasonable weather the conservation of hay in the 

 form of silage was worthy of consideration and a leaflet on the subject might be 

 obtained on application. In response to this suggestion several hundred letters have 

 been received from all parts of the Kingdom, many of which show that the question 

 is, in the opinion of the writers, one of importance. Other letters received at the 

 Board's Offices show that mildews are present in many places, and in more than one 

 instance potatoes have been affected with disease {Phytophthora infestans). The 

 Board would be glad to receive information on this subject during the coming months, 

 of July and August. 



