1908.] Notes on the Weather and Crops. 215 



This concludes the period of spring, calculated according to meteorological 

 records. The long period of severe cold was succeeded by mild and satisfactory 

 weather, and by the end of the period the season had practically caught up the three 

 weeks which had been lost. The rainfall for the spring was well above the average 

 of the last twenty-five years, though the number of hours of sunshine was less. 



Reports from Berkshire show that during the first half of the month little progress 

 was made. The land was wet and the season still backward. Towards the middle of 

 the month, however, everything grew at a great pace and farm prospects were good. 

 The end of the month was summer weather. The corn crops looked- a little yellow, 

 but the grass was wonderfully good. Fruit was not so good, and gooseberries appeared 

 to have suffered. In North Lancashire the results of the check experienced in April 

 disappeared with the rains in early May, and the progress made by the vegetation was 

 very marked. The lambing season has been variable, some farmers having severe 

 losses. Strawberries and currants show signs of a heavy crop. Bee stocks which 

 suffered from last year's wet weather have benefited considerably by the warmth. 



Reports from Midlothian state that more work has been successfully performed on 

 the farms during the week ending the 23rd May than in the previous six weeks. The 

 season at that time was a month late. On the 20th May potatoes were still being 

 planted, and in some places turnips were being sown tor the first time. Apricot 

 blossom suffered from the night frosts in the beginning of May, but little other damage 

 is reported. The magpie moth caterpillar has proved extremely destructive in at 

 least one place. Slugs are said to have caused damage elsewhere. From Wisbech 

 the following report has been received : — 



The favourable outlook for the gooseberry crop has not been realised, owing to 

 frosts towards the end of the month, and great quantities of berries have fallen. 

 Plums are setting well and there are signs of a good crop, while the strawberries seem 

 everywhere to be full of promise. Apples have suffered severely from caterpillars of 

 the " winter moth " and many trees have been stiipped of their leaves, while the 

 " apple sucker : ' is very busy at the bases of the trusses of bloom. Large numbers of 

 the winter moth caterpillars have descended to the gooseberry bushes and are now- 

 attacking the berries. The quantity of winter moth and apple sucker is all the more 

 remarkable owing to the great increase of spraying this season, but ncne of the 

 washes on the market seem to be of much effect against apple sucker owing to the 

 difficulty of getting the spray fluid to touch the insect. In most cases, too, 

 the spraying was not done sufficiently early and in many cases not thoroughly. 



In the Holland Division of Lincolnshire the same remarks apply as to apple 

 sucker and winter moth, and if crops are to be obtained, winter banding must become 

 more general both here and in the Wisbech district. Gooseberries are cropping well 

 and some growers have already begun to pick. There is a good show of blossom on 

 the strawberries and a heavy crop should be the result. 



From South-east Kent it is reported that the warm rains of the last ten days of 

 May encouraged rapid growth, but the earlier sown crops have not picked up. There 

 were exceptionally good prospects for all kinds of fruit. The frost in April did not 

 harm the gooseberries (apricot the only blossom here destroyed). Good crops of goose- 

 berries are being picked, good crops of cherries, pears, plums, red and black currants 

 expected, strawberries are in full bloom, raspberries nearly full bloom. Good prospects 

 of each of these crops. Some orchards badly attacked by caterpillars. Sheep and 

 lambs thriving well generally. All farm crops generally looking exceedingly well. 

 Mangolds, worst crop, have not come up well. 



