528 



Notes on the Weather and Crops. [oct., 



The estimated number of agricultural labourers in districts 

 where wages were reported as unaltered in 1907 was 407,544, 

 while the number in districts where wages were reported to 

 have changed was 18,410. Of .these 14,971 were in districts 

 where wages were raised , and 3,439 in districts where wages 

 were reduced. 



The estimated net increase in 1907, in the districts in which 

 changes were reported, amounted to £376 per week in the wages 

 of those affected, compared with an increase of £382 in 1906. 



ScotlUnd:— Information as to the rates of wages agreed upon 

 at hiring fairs in Scotland was obtained by the Department 

 from a correspondent who made special inquiries on the subject. 



The correspondent reported that at the hirings held in 1907 

 wages of male farm servants on the whole remained substan- 

 tially the same as in 1906, with an upward tendency in the 

 northern counties, particularly north of Inverness-shire. In a 

 few cases especially capable servants remaining in their old 

 places obtained slight advances, amounting to about 10s. for the 

 half-year. On the other hand, at the autumn hirings a larger 

 number of men changing places had to submit to reductions, 

 usually of 10s. or 15s. The supply of labour was generally 

 sufficient, and at the autumn hirings there was occasionally some 

 excess. Women remained scarce and their wages showed an 

 upward tendency. 



During the greater part of the jii'st week of September the weather was extremely 

 wet-and unsettled, and thunderstorms were experienced in many parts of the country \ 

 but by the end of the week fair weather was general over 

 Notes On the Weather nearly the whole of England. Temperat ure was consider- 

 and the Crops. a ^b' below the average, every district in Great Britain 

 being returned as " very deficient " in warmth. P.ainfall 

 was "heavy" or " very heavy " in all parts except England N.W. More than an 

 inch was recorded on Monday at many places in the west and north. Bright sun- 

 shine was deficient over the country generally. 



In the second week the general conditions varied greatly in different parts of the 

 kingdom. In the south and east it was mostly fine and bright, except for some local 

 showers and thunderstorms towards the end of the period, while in the north and 

 north-west it was very rainy until past the middle of the week. Temperature 

 continued below the average, and all districts except England N.E. returned the 

 warmth as " deficient." In several localities the thermometer fell to below freezing 

 point. Rainfall was greatly in excess of the average in Scotland, Ireland and 

 England N.W., and slightly : n excess in England S.W., while elsewhere the fall was 

 less than the average. The rain was both heavy and continuous in many parts of 

 Ireland and Scotland during the earlier days of the week, and measurements of more 

 than an inch in 24 hours were very common. The largest aggregates for the week 

 were 4 "64 in. at Glencarron, 3-48 in. at Nairn, 3*36 in: at Markree Castle, and 



