Weather and Crops in August. 



[SEPT., 



Summaries of the condition of the different crops in each district are 

 included in the Report. The state of the Hop crop is given as follows : — 



Hop Crop. — In Kent, attacks of aphis have continued persistently, 

 and where continual washing has not been carried on there may be 

 no hops to pick. It is thought by some estimators that the quality 

 may be good if fine weather continues, but a low yield is expected, 

 one estimator even speaking of the crop in his district as the smallest 

 since 1882. In Surrey, Sussex, and Hants the continued cold and 

 damp weather of July has made the outlook bad, the aphis attacks 

 having been exceptionally severe. Reports from Worcestershire show 

 that the unceasing attacks of blight have caused a persistent washing, 

 but an improvement with the August sunshine is reported. In Hereford 

 many yards are said to be a failure. One estimator in this county 

 forecasts an average yield for his district of 33 to 4 cwts. per acre, 

 with an outside limit of 5 to 8 cwts. on best soils where the crop has 

 been well washed. 



The weather during the first day or two of August was dull and 

 cloudy, but then became bright and fair, so that on the whole the first- 

 week was favourable. Rainfall was " heavy " 

 Notes on the Weather in England E. and N.E., "very light" in 

 and Crops in August. England S.E. Sunshine was " abundant " in 

 every part of England except N.E. 



The second week was very fine and bright, warmth being " unusual " 

 or " very unusual " everywhere. Rainfall was " very light " or 

 " nought," and sunshine " abundant " or " very abundant." The ther- 

 mometer rose to 89° in England S.W. ; but the range of temperature 

 during the week was very great, as much as 42 0 in one instance. 



The weather became unsettled soon after the third week began, and 

 rain, often accompanied with thunderstorms, was frequent. In Eng- 

 land E. and N.W. the rainfall was "heavy," in England N.E., S.E., 

 and the Midlands it was " very heavy." Sunshine was " moderate " to 

 " scanty." 



During the fourth week the unfavourable conditions continued. 

 Warmth was " deficient " everywhere, except in England N.E., where 

 it was "moderate." Rainfall was "heavy" in England S.E. and 

 Scotland W. ; " moderate" elsewhere, except in the Midlands, where it 

 was " light." Sunshine was generally " scanty." 



The reports received from the Board's correspondents in Berkshire 

 indicate that the hot weather at the beginning of August enabled the 

 farmers in that district to cut and put some of the wheat in stack, 

 but as a rule harvest was after that time carried on under difficul- 

 ties. One correspondent states that many samples of corn with un- 

 matured grains were seen, and that from the samples of wheat he saw 

 threshed on the 30th and 31st August both colour and quality will be 

 second-rate. On the other hand, it is said that very little corn has 

 sprouted, as the temperature was low. Roots have thriven wonderfully 

 well, and the pastures were never better. There seems to be great 

 uncertainty as to the extent of the plum crop. One correspondent 

 describes plums as scarce, another as plentiful, but backward. Both 

 write from practically the same district. 



