I909-] 



Weather and Crops in July, 



4i7 



the last week ending July 31st, the weather was again extremely un- 

 settled, especially in the earlier half of the week, when heavy falls of 

 rain were experienced over nearly the whole of Great Britain. Warmth 

 was universally " deficient," rainfall " heavy " or " very heavy " every- 

 where, and sunshine in most places only " scanty." The abnormal 

 state of the weather may be estimated from the return showing the 

 number of weeks between June 6th and July 31st, which were below 

 the average in warmth. In England S.E. it was seven out of eight. 

 In England N.E., E., and S.W., it was six. In the Midlands and 

 England S.W. it was five. In Scotland E. six, and Scotland W. five. 

 In no place was one week above the normal. 



Several correspondents have supplied information in connection with 

 the weather report. From Newbury, haymaking is described as " a 

 weary business, the ricks being mostly second- or third-rate quality." 

 A correspondent in Midlothian has sent several samples of wheat from 

 that county, and says they may be taken as typical examples of the 

 appearance and progress of the cereal there at the period of writing. 

 The stalks varied from five feet to five feet five inches long. The fol- 

 lowing report has been supplied by one of the officials of the South- 

 Eastern Agricultural College, Wye : — 



" The month has been notable for heavy rainfall and cold weather 

 for the time of year. Corn is in some places rather beaten down by the 

 rain, but is fairly good, though harvest is a fortnight later than usual. 

 The weather during the making of clover hay was constantly wet, so 

 that two-thirds of the hay is damaged. Later meadow hay, cut at the 

 end of July, is a heavy crop, and being got up in fair condition. The 

 rain has been favourable to starting mangels and turnips. Maize has 

 been at a standstill, growing very little, because, although the land 

 was moist, the air was cold. Hops have been badly attacked by aphis, 

 and on the College farm have been sprayed with soft soap and nicotine 

 eight or nine times, using about 500 gallons of wash per acre each 

 time. Hop-picking will be later than usual. Warmth is wanted for 

 crops generally. The weather has suited stock, making the grasses 

 grow. Apples are short, and have been considerably knocked about 

 by the hail last week ; gooseberries have been a fair crop ; red-currants 

 very good ; black-currants half a crop ; plums very short ; apples half a 

 crop : the latter are swelling slowly, due to lack of heat. Raspberries 

 have not been good here, many not properly maturing, and being unfit 

 to eat. Hail bruised the pea-pods ; the weather for planting out 

 cauliflowers, cabbage, &c, was good." 



Germany. — The report of the Imperial Statistical Bureau on the 

 state of the crops in the middle of July gives the arithmetical condition 

 Notes on Crop as folIows ^-Winter wheat, 2 ' 8 5 s P rin & 



Prospects Abroad. ™ h ? at ' 2 ' 5; winter rye ' 2 A 6; spring rye ' f 5 ; 



barley, 2*3; oats, 2*5; and potatoes, 2*4. (1 = 



very good, 2 = good, 3 = medium (average), and 4 = small.) 



Winter grain, especially wheat, is somewhat thin and short in the 



straw, but the cool, damp weather has had a favourable effect on the 



development of the ear, so that a satisfactory corn crop may be ex- 



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