2I 4 



Notes on the Weather and Crops. [june, 



The Oxfordshire Agricultural Society at their Abingdon meet- 

 ing in May last allotted three prizes for a " milk contest." The 



competition was limited to herds of not 

 A Milk Contest. less than 10 milking cows belonging to 



tenant farmers, and containing not more 

 than one cow of a Channel Island breed to every ten of 

 other breeds. The samples were taken from the whole 

 bulk of mixed milk, and the cows were milked in the 

 afternoon in the presence of an official of the Society, by 

 whom the sample was taken. The milk was not to be strained, 

 and no preservatives or other matter added. The samples 

 were analysed and judged at the University College, Reading. 

 Seven competitors entered. 



In making the award points were given not only for chemical 

 composition (fat content and amount of solids not fat), but 

 also for cleanliness and amount of milk per cow, allowance 

 being made for period of lactation of the animals. All the 

 samples contained 4 per cent, or over of butter fat and more 

 than 8*5 percent, of solids not fat. In cleanliness and keeping 

 quality they were all of high merit. 



During the last week of April (ending the 2nd May) the weather varied greatly. 

 During the greater part of the week it was rainy and cold, but towards the end it 

 became fine and unusually warm over England. Except 

 Notes On m tne extreme north of Scotland rainfall was "heavy" 



the Weather and he c avy " in the MidIands and and 



S. W.). Sunshine was m many places scanty. During 

 Crops in May. the first week of May the weather was very unsettled and 

 rain frequent. Warmth was "unusual" in most places, 

 and except in England E. and S.E. rainfall was " heavy." Sunshine, however, was 

 uniformly "scanty" ("very scanty" in England S.E. and S.W. and Scotland W.). 

 The thermometer did not fall below 42 0 F. in the daytime in any part of the Kingdom 

 except Scotland E. and N., being above the average in this respect everywhere. In 

 the second week the weather was generally unsettled, with much cloud and more or 

 less rain on several days. Warmth was " deficient " only in England S.E. and S.W. , 

 though sunshine was "scanty" in England N.E., E., S.E. and the Midlands. In 

 the last three districts rainfall was also "heavy." In this week the accumulated day 

 degrees below 42° F. was much fewer than usual. During the third week the 

 weather was mostly fair over England and often very sunny, but in the north and 

 west of Scotland rain was frequent. Warmth was " unusual" in England N.E., E. 

 and the Midlands, while sunshine was generally "abundant." Rainfall in the 

 eastern section of the Kingdom wis generally "light." There were no accumulated 

 day degrees below 42° F. , and the number of degrees in the eastern section above 

 that temperature [was [above the average. During the last week the weather was 

 generally fine. Except in England S.E., S.W. and the Midlands warmth was 

 " unusual," while rainfall was in many places "light." Sunshine was "abundant" 

 in England N.E., S.E., N.W. and the Midlands. There were no accumulated day 

 degrees below 42 0 F., and once more the number of degrees above that figure was 

 much above the average. 



