950 Notes on the Weather in January. [feb., 



amount of arrears, which had accumulated during December, are said 

 to have been worked off. Considerable areas south of the Trent were 

 sown with wheat during the latter half of the month. 



The drier weather has also suited ewes, which are for the most part 

 in better condition than a month ago. Although the lambing season, 

 in the few counties where it had commenced by January ist, had not 

 opened very auspiciously, reports are now more favourable, but still 

 rather variable. Perhaps the earliest districts have fared worst : reports 

 of a certain amount of abortion and of an unusual number of deaths 

 among ewes in parts of Dorset, Hants and Wilts have been received, 

 and from the Home Counties north of London reports are not too 

 satisfactory. Otherwise the fall of lambs seems about average (though 

 heavy losses among them are reported in Hampshire), more twins than 

 usual in some districts being counterbalanced by a smaller number in 

 others. In the northern districts, where lambing has not yet com- 

 menced, no apprehension seems to be entertained as to the prospects, 

 as the ewes are generally thriving. 



Cattle are generally reported to be doing well, except in some 

 districts, where it is thought that their poorness of condition is attribut- 

 able to the indifferent quality of the hay and roots. In the north it 

 has been found possible to keep stock out at pasture more than usual, 

 and thus to economise the turnips. 



The weather during the first week (January ist to January 7th) was 

 generally fair to fine at the beginning, but the conditions deteriorated 

 towards the end of the week. Warmth was 

 Notes on the Weather " moderate " except in England S.W., where 

 in January. the deficiency was 2 0 below the normal. Rain- 

 fall was heavy in England N.E. and E., and 

 moderate elsewhere, although heavy falls were experienced towards the 

 close of the week in the western and north-western districts. Bright 

 sunshine was above the average in Scotland and the western districts 

 of England, and about equal to it or rather less in the eastern, central, 

 and south-eastern districts. 



The general character of the second week was unsettled, rain being 

 experienced in most localities, with sleet or snow at the end of the 

 week. Temperature was "moderate" over the country, and only in the 

 three easterly districts of England N.E., E., and S.E., was the rainfall 

 "heavy." The amount of bright sunshine recorded exceeded the 

 average in all districts except Scotland N. 



During the third week the weather was generally dry, although there 

 was a considerable amount of cloud in most parts of England, with 

 rather frequent mist or fog. Temperature varied, but was generally 

 "moderate." Rainfall was less than the average in all districts, being 

 "light" in England E. and S.E. and Scotland N., and "very light" 

 elsewhere. Bright sunshine was not very uniform, a "scanty" amount 

 being reported from England S.E. and Scotland W., and a "very 

 abundant " amount from Scotland E. 



On several occasions in the fourth week rain fell in Scotland and in 

 the south-west of England, but the quantity was generally very slight; 

 only in Scotland N. and W. was it even "moderate." In other parts of 

 Great Britain the weather, although often very cloudy and in many 



