416 



Weather and Crops in July. 



[AUG., 



generally, though their continuance has been detrimental in some re- 

 spects, and especially in regard to the hay harvest. 



General reference is made to the suitability of the season, from the 

 autumn seed-time onwards, to the growth of wheat, the acreage of 

 which is said to have been increased. An over-average crop is anti- 

 cipated throughout Great Britain, but particularly in England. Barley 

 also has been favoured by the seasonal conditions, and appears to give 

 good promise throughout the country, except in Wales. The oat crop, 

 on the other hand, is unsatisfactory throughout England and Wales, 

 the wide prevalence of insect attacks having materially reduced the 

 prospects of an average yield. In Scotland, however, the yield may 

 slightly exceed the average. 



Roots and potatoes promise well, though the season has not hitherto 

 been favourable to the growth of mangolds. 



As already indicated, the yield of hay is low, on account of the un- 

 favourable spring and early summer. The yield in Scotland, though 

 not up to the average, seems to be better than in England. 



As regards fruit, apples, pears, and plums seem to be deficient. 

 Strawberries were a large crop, though much damaged by the weather, 

 and gooseberries promise to be the best of the fruit crops. Currants 

 are likely to be under-average, on the whole. 



Hops compare unfavourably with last year, and are stated to be seri- 

 ously affected by vermin and blight. 



Summarising the reports, and representing an average crop by ioo, 

 the appearance of the crops in mid-July indicates yields for Great Britain 

 which may be represented by the following percentages : — Wheat, 104 ; 

 barley, 103 ; oats, 96; potatoes, 104; roots, 104; hay, 92, 



The weather during the month of July was, as a rule, ungenial. 

 During the first week, warmth was " deficient " throughout the eastern 

 section of the United Kingdom (" very defi- 

 Notes on the Weather cient " in England E., S.E., and Midlands) 

 and the Crops in July, and in England N.W. and S.W. Rainfall was 

 less than the average, except in England S.E., 

 but bright sunshine was also rather deficient. The rain occurred 

 mostly in the early part of the week — that is to say, in June. During 

 the second week the weather remained unsettled, with much cloud and 

 rather frequent showers or periods of steady rain. The rainfall was 

 " heavy " in every part of England, while warmth was everywhere 

 "deficient." Sunshine in every part of England was "scanty." The 

 third week witnessed a few fair or bright intervals in most parts of 

 the Kingdom, and in England S.W. the rainfall was " light." Warmth 

 was, however, " deficient " in England E., S.E., and S.W., while 

 sunshine was " scanty," or " very scanty " everywhere, except in Scot- 

 land E., where it was " abundant." In the fourth week the weather 

 varied a good deal, but regarded as a whole it was fair to fine in the 

 south and east of England, and unsettled and showery in the north 

 and west of the Kingdom. Rainfall was considerably more than the 

 average in Scotland N. and W. and England N.W., but less in all 

 other parts of Great Britain, the fall being much below the normal 

 in England E. and S.E. Sunshine was generally "abundant." In 



