1908.] Notes on the Weather and Crops. 451 



A temporary break in the long spell of fine weather that characterised the latter 

 part of July, occurred on the Wednesday and Thursday of the first week of August. 



Slight rain fell in many parts of the country, and a con- 

 NoteS Oil Weather siderable quantity at some of the South- Eastern stations, 

 and Crops in AUgUSt. At other times, and except in the extreme northern and 

 north-western districts, the weather remained fair and 

 dry. Rainfall was, however, "light" or "very light" everywhere (in England 

 S.W. "nought ") and sunshine "abundant," except in England N.E. and E., where it 

 was "moderate." During the second week the weather was fair or fine over the 

 greater part of the kingdom, but rain was rather frequent, though not heavy in the 

 extreme north and north-west, nor in the east and north-east. The warmth in 

 the Eastern Section was, in general, " deficient," in the Western, " moderate,' while 

 rainfall was " light" or " very light." Bright sunshine exceeded the average in most 

 places, but was only about equal to it in the Midland Counties and England S.W. 

 The rainfall for the season was by this time below the average everywhere, in some 

 places as much as two inches. It was, of course, not so much behind if the whole 

 year be taken into account. The weather remained fair or fine to about the middle of 

 the third week, when it became unsettled, with frequent rain and local thunderstorms 

 of considerable severity over the more southern district. Warmth was "deficient" in 

 England N.E. and Scotland E., elsewhere "moderate." Sunshine was "scanty" 

 throughout the Eastern Section except in England S.E., where, in common with the 

 whole of the Western Section, it was "moderate." Rainfall varied a good deal, but 

 in general it was about the average over most of England. On the 20th as much as 

 1*42 in. fell at Stonyhurst, 1*65 in. at Dublin, and 2*09 in. at Kingstown. 



During the fourth week the general condition was very unsettled over the whole 

 kingdom. Falls of steady rain or passing showers alternated with intervals of bright 

 sunshine. Thunderstorms were experienced in almost all localities. The tempera- 

 ture differed little from the average, the warmth being returned as "moderate" in all 

 districts. The rainfall, however, was much in excess of the average. Measurements of 

 about an inch were very common in the south-eastern quarter of England on Sunday, 

 the 23rd, and falls of an inch or more were experienced over a very large part of 

 Great Britain on Wednesday the 26th. Notwithstanding this, bright sunshine was 

 above the normal in all districts except the English Channel. 



The following account is given by a correspondent in Berkshire, who also reports 

 that no rain fell between 17th July and 20th August. " The closing week of August 

 proved a stop to harvesting, about a fourth being yet in the fields. But the rain 

 has proved a godsend to gardens and to roots and pasture, which have all been 

 much refreshed. As regards harvest the bulk will be in very small compass. For 

 instance, one grower says that whereas he had 21 wheat ricks last year he has 

 only 8 this. Another remarks that instead of 30 ricks as last year he will only have 

 15 this, and so on. The berry appears fairly good, but the amount of straw and corn 

 is, in my opinion, considerably under average. Oats are a particularly inferior crop. 

 No doubt the weather of 25th April did all corn crops harm and rendered the soil 

 chill and cold when it ought to have been warm. With some, hay is thought to be 

 the saving grace of the farmer, but the present price for good hay — £2 per ton — does 

 not seem to promise much benefit." Another report from the same county says c< The 

 weather from the 1st to the 4th of August was fine and warm, then a few slight 

 showers fell and it was much cooler. There was a little frost on the 15th, but still 

 there was very little rain and about half the corn was put together in good condition 

 by the 20th. Then the weather became wet and there has been very little corn 

 carried since. It rained all day on the 23rd, and about an inch fell. Very heavy 

 thunderstorm and gale on the 28th and damage done to outstanding crops. 

 Pastures and roots very much improved by the rain, apples and plums blown down in 

 large quantities by the gale." A report from the S.E. district says: — "Harvesting 

 was well started by the beginning of the month, and favourable weather allowed half 

 of it to be got in by the middle of the month. Around Bexhill in Sussex about a 



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