1909.] Notes on the Weather and the Crops. 141 



The weather during the month of April was in marked contrast to 

 the weather of March. The first week (April 4th to April 10th) was 

 unusually brilliant. Temperature was prac- 

 Notes on the Weather tically everywhere " very unusual," rainfall 

 and Crops in April, "very light" or "nought," and sunshine 

 " very abundant." During the second week 

 the temperature was changeable and showery. Warmth was " un- 

 usual " everywhere, but in Great Britain sunshine was only " moderate." 

 Rainfall was above the average in all the more western and northern 

 districts, but below it elsewhere. In Scotland and the north of England 

 the excess was large. The number of accumulated day degrees above 

 42 0 for the week was large, and for the season (six weeks, March 7th 

 to April 17th) there was in most districts an amount above the normal, 

 showing that for those six weeks the season was not behindhand. For 

 the year, however, the case was reversed, and the number of accu- 

 mulated day degrees was below the average. Night frosts took place 

 almost everywhere. In the third week the weather was again favour- 

 able; warmth was " unusual " everywhere, sunshine was " abundant " 

 (England, E., "very abundant"; S.W., "moderate"), while rainfall 

 was "heavy" or "very heavy." A few night frosts occurred. The 

 record of accumulated day degrees was above the normal, and even 

 for the year the deficit was by this time small, while for the season 

 it was in excess. 



The fourth week was characterised by rain, the excess in the East 

 and North-East being heavy. Temperature was a little below normal, 

 and bright sunshine was " abundant " or " very abundant " in most 

 places. The rainfall for the year was by this time almost normal, some 

 places recording a slight excess and some a slight deficiency in the 

 number of rainy days and the amount of actual rainfall. Except in 

 East Scotland, where there were 2*85 more inches of rain than usual, 

 the difference was in no place great. For the season (March 7th tc 

 May 1st) rainfall was everywhere above the average. 



The conclusions that might be drawn from the foregoing report are 

 borne out by the letters of the Board's correspondents. One writer from 

 Berkshire declares fruit prospects to be good, cherries, pears, and plums 

 being a sheet of white blossom, while currants and gooseberries were 

 laden with young fruit. "Planting, on the whole," he says, "was late, but 

 the genial month we have had will largely level up arrears." Another 

 writer from Berkshire says, "Vegetation is a little backward; great 

 progress has been made with planting of corn, and it is now (May 1st) 

 practically finished, and the prospect for crops was never better. Fruit 

 trees are all in full bloom, and it appears probable that there may be 

 an abundant crop of fruit." From Midlothian, however, it is stated, 

 " practically speaking, everything is late. There has been no growth 

 to mention. Potato-planting is still being undertaken. Fruit trees are 

 well clothed with blossom, and the bulk of opinion is that the year is 

 likely to be a good fruit year." 



