igoS.] Notes on the Weather and Crops. 137 



The ungenial weather of March was continued during the whole of April. During 

 the first week (ending the 4th April) falls of rain were very frequent, while there were 

 occasional showers of hail in the west and south, and of 

 Notes On the s ^ eet 01 snow m tne northern districts. The temperature,. 

 Weather and the however, differed very little ftom the avenjge. With the 



. single exception of England N.E., rainfall was heavy 



Crops 111 April. throughout Great Britain, while bright sunshine was as a 

 rule ''moderate" (England S.W., "scanty"). Strong- 

 winds and gales prevailed. During the second week the weather was mostly fair,, 

 especially at the beginning. Warmth was, however, normal, and so was the rainfall, 

 except in the Midlands, England N.W. and S.W., where it was "light." Bright 

 sunshine varied a good deal, being "scanty" in Scotland E. and England N.E.,, 

 " moderate " in England E., the Midlands, Scotland W. and England N.W., and 

 "abundant " in England S.E. and S.W. The wind was generally northerly and the 

 season remained as backward as ever. The accumulated day degrees of temperature 

 above 42 °were much below the average for the spring, while the degrees below 42- 

 were generally in excess. During the third week the weather was generally fine, with 

 a dry atmosphere. Temperature was " deficient " everywhere in Great Britain except in 

 the Midlands, Scotland W. and England N.W. Rainfall was " light " or " very light 

 (England N.E. " moderate ") while sunshine varied, being " moderate " in Scotland E., 

 England N.E., Midlands and England S.W., and " abundant " in England E. and 

 S.E., Scotland W. and England N.W. The wind was northerly, cold and sometimes- 

 strong. 



The fourth week witnessed weather of a character most unusual for the time or 

 year. The general condition was very wintry and unsettled over the whole Kingdom. 

 During the earlier days showers of hail, rain, sleet, or snow were experienced in many 

 places, while towards its close considerable amounts of snow fell in almost all: 

 districts, the falls being especially heavy in the south of England and in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Edinburgh. The temperature was everywhere " very deficient," the 

 thermometer falling to 10 degrees at Balmoral, and on the grass at the same place to 

 4 degrees. Rainfall was " very heavy " in England E. and S.E., "heavy " in England 

 N.E. and in the Midlands, elsewhere it was "moderate" (Scotland W. "light")- 

 Except in England N.W. and S.W., where it was "moderate." Sunshine was 

 " scanty " in England. In Scotland W. it was actually " abundant." The season by 

 this time was even more backward than the week before, and the deficiency of 

 accumulated day degrees was startling. The rainfall was well above the average 

 for the spring, and in most places for the year. 



Several correspondents have reported on the abnormal weather. In Berkshire it 

 is stated that on the 23rd about three inches of snow fell ; this disappeared the next 

 day, but on the 25th snow fell for 15 hours and was about two feet deep on the level, a 

 state of things that has never been known to occur before so late in the season. On 

 the 28th, very heavy rain fell and the snow disappeared, but the low-lying lands were 

 all flooded. Work on the farm was much hindered and vegetation was kept: 

 back. Trees were broken with the weight of the snow, but it was not believed 

 that any serious injury had been caused to cattle or sheep. In North Lancashire 

 it is said that very little progress was made during April, and pasture remained 

 bare, so that farmers had a good deal of trouble in providing food for stock. On 

 the other hand work on the farm proceeded almost uninterruptedly. Very little 

 harm appears to have been done to the fruit in Berkshire. From Worcestershire the 

 following report is sent : It is too early as yet to measure the full effect of the late- 

 hard frost and bad weather. As far as can be seen at present the effect has been 

 much less than might have been anticipated. Gooseberries have been most hurt, 

 especially where grown away from the protection of other fruit trees. Currants have 

 escaped injury. The plum trees, though the blossom was covered with wet snow and 

 frozen solid, have suffered very little damage and there is plenty of uninjured bloom 

 left for a full crop. Other fruit trees were not sufficiently far advanced to be 

 susceptible to frost. 



