1909.] Weather and Crops in September. 595 



the hops have been carefully cultivated throughout, and have withstood 

 the weather, yield and quality may be average, but the majority of 

 the hops in the district will be far below the average, and many acres 

 cannot be worth picking. Where hops have been well cultivated and 

 continually washed a fair crop may be obtained in Hampshire, but else- 

 where in the county the crop has practically failed. One reporter 

 estimates the yield at 3 to 4 cwt. per acre in his district. In Hereford 

 the crop is described by one estimator as the worst since 1882, and in 

 many parishes will not be more than 2 cwt. per acre. Another estimator 

 quotes 4 cwt. per acre as a probable average in his neighbourhood, and 

 adds that quality leaves nothing to be desired. In Worcestershire about 

 one-third of an average crop is expected to be obtained. The quality 

 is reported good. 



The weather during the month of September was, as a whole, unsatis- 

 factory. During the first week (Aug. 29 to Sept. 4) the conditions were 

 changeable and showery, warmth being 

 Notes on the Weather "deficient," in Scotland W., England N.W., 

 and Crops in S.W., and N.E., and " very deficient " in 



September. Scotland E., England E. and S.E. and the 



Midlands. Bright sunshine was less than the 

 average over the major portion of the country, but the deficiency was 

 not large. With this week the meteorological summer came to an end. 

 It is worth recording that in the thirteen weeks of summer no fewer 

 than ten were below the average as regards warmth in England S.E., 

 and only two above. For England E. the figures were nine below and 

 two above, and for Scotland E. and England N.W. they were eight 

 below and only one above. In England N.E. and S.W., and in the 

 Midlands, they were seven below and only two above. 



The autumn began in a similar dreary fashion. Warmth was 

 " deficient " for the second week in September everywhere except in 

 England N.W. and S.W., where it was "very deficient." Rainfall 

 was frequent, though not " heavy," except in Scotland E. and England 

 S.E. Sunshine was " moderate." During the third week the weather 

 was slightly better, but warmth was " deficient " everywhere except in 

 England E. and the Midlands. Sunshine in England E. and S.E. was 

 " scanty," and in England N.E. and the Midlands "very scanty." In 

 England E. rainfall was "heavy." On the 17th, 1.41 in. of rain fell 

 at Wisley, and i'o2 in. at Oxford. At the latter station o'5 in. was 

 registered within 15 minutes. In the fourth week, the weather was 

 at first fair and dry over England, but afterwards became unsettled 

 over the United Kingdom generally. A magnetic storm of consider- 

 able intensity occurred on the 25th. Except as regards sunshine, which 

 was " scanty " in most parts of the Eastern section and in Scotland W., 

 there was little variation from the normal. Thunderstorms occurred 

 on the 23rd, with falls of more than an inch of rain. 



The state of the weather is reflected in the statements made by 

 some of the correspondents who have written to the Board. One, 

 from Newbury, says : " A disastrous month for the harvest. Rain was 

 needed, but it came at a most inopportune time. Much corn is stacked 

 in wretched condition. A great deal cannot be threshed until drying 

 winds and frost have penetrated the stacks. Quality of all samples 



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