1909.] Notes on Weather and Crops in October. 679 



The weather during the last week of September was very unsettled, 

 the sky being generally overcast and rain falling every day in some 

 part of the kingdom. Falls of more than one 

 Notes on the Weather inch in twenty-four hours were recorded in 

 and the Crops many places, while in Ilfracombe 2*14 inches 

 in October. fell. Bright sunshine was considerably below 



the normal, being "very scanty" everywhere 

 except Scotland E., where it was only "scanty." 



During the first week of October the weather was variable, with 

 frequent rain, interspersed, however, with fairly long intervals of bright 

 sunshine. Rainfall was in excess of the average, and in the extreme 

 south-east the excess was considerable. Warmth was "unusual." 



During the second week the weather was again very unsettled. 

 Rain fell almost daily, often in large quantities, and intervals of sun- 

 shine were mostly short. Falls of an inch or more in twenty-four hours 

 were very numerous, and occurred over a large area. Bright sunshine 

 was slightly less than the average, but the temperature was high, 

 being "unusual" (England E. "very unusual") everywhere except 

 England N.E. and Scotland E. 



The same kind of weather prevailed in the third week, very mild, 

 with frequent falls of rain, many being of more than an inch. Warmth 

 was "very unusual" nearly everywhere, and sunshine only "moderate." 



The weather during the fourth week was even more unsettled. 

 Warmth was "very deficient" everywhere (England E. "deficient"), 

 while rainfall was "very heavy" in the south. In several places over 

 an inch of rain fell in twenty-four hours, while at Brighton no less 

 than 3*32 in. fell. In one place 5*79 in. fell in three days. 



The reports received from the correspondents of the Board show 

 an unfortunate state of affairs everywhere. In Berkshire "the month 

 has been most unharvestlike, and the little corn that appears is of a 

 very variable quality, much being blighted, and, of course, entirely out 

 of condition." "The greater part of the corn is now carted from the 

 fields in a much damaged state, and much taken to the yards for 

 cattle. All description of work on the farm has been much hindered, 

 and wheat planting is done under difficulties. Roots are good, but 

 mangolds should now be stored, and how they will be carted off the 

 land is a difficult problem." "Grass is abundant, and the fruit harvest 

 has been a most miserable one." In Kent it is said, "maize, grass, 

 mangold, and turnips have grown fairly fast. The frequent rain inter- 

 fered with and delayed potato digging." The heavy rain of the last 

 week was followed by a frost, which seared many plants. In the fruit 

 plantations little has been done owing to the wetness of the soil. 



A note from Forres, N.B., shows that turnips in general are reported 

 to be a good crop, though there seems to be more than the usual 

 damage by " finger-and-toe." In some cases the attack is bad. The 

 harvest has been tedious but by no means late, and generally the crop 

 has been good and well saved. In very late districts the weather of 

 the last fortnight has been disastrous, but while there is a change for 

 the better just now (first week of November), a good deal of grain will 

 not have ripened and will be destroyed by frost. On November 2nd 

 some oats were still uncut and lying under six inches of snow. 



