962 Agricultural Conditions on February ist. [feb., 



The weather in the first week of the new year (December 31st to 



January 6th) was very dull generally, with occasional rain in all 



districts. Snow and sleet were experienced 

 Notes on the - n the North Midlands and the north and 



Weather in north-east of Britain generally on the 6th. 



January- Heavy rainfall was experienced all over the 



country, except in the east and west of Scotland ; warmth was every- 

 where "unusual," the excess of temperature above the average being 

 more than 6° in several English districts. Bright sunshine was gener- 

 ally less than the normal. 



During the second week a generally unsettled condition prevailed, 

 with much snow and sleet early in the period in the more northern 

 districts, and occasional rain subsequently. In the east and south of 

 England rain was less frequent than elsewhere. Temperature was 

 lower than during preceding weeks, but was again above the average 

 except in England N.E. Bright sunshine was below the normal in 

 the eastern districts, but was above it over England N.W. and Scot- 

 land W. and N. 



The weather continued unsettled throughout the third week, with 

 heavy falls of rain, sleet, or snow during the earlier half of the period, 

 and of rain in many places during the later days. Nearly every part of 

 Great Britain experienced snow, but in the south-east and south of 

 England it was very slight. Warmth was everywhere "moderate," 

 and sunshine "scanty," or "very scanty." No sunshine was recorded 

 during the week in the east of England. 



During the greater part of the fourth week the conditions continued 

 very unsettled over all the southern, eastern, and south-western parts 

 of England, with much cloud and frequent falls of rain, while slight 

 precipitation also occurred in the east of Scotland. Late in the week 

 a marked improvement took place over the whole country. Much mist 

 and fog was experienced from time to time in England. Over the 

 whole week temperature was below the average, while the amount 

 of rainfall and bright sunshine recorded varied greatly in different 

 districts. 



The Crop Reporters of the Board, in reporting on agricultural 



conditions on February ist, refer to the very wet weather pre- 



... vailing throughout the country during the 



Agricultural ton- first three weekg of January> and state that 



ditions in Great the autumn . sown crops all looked healthy 

 Britain on and vigorous, with the exception of a few 



February 1st. pieces on heavy or low-lying lands, where, 



the plant was sometimes thin or weak. The sharp frosts (which were 

 accompanied by heavy snow in the midlands and north) during the 

 last week of the month were generally welcomed, and allowed arrears 

 of farm work, such as carting manure, to be performed. 



Lambing in the south of England has not progressed very favour- 

 ably. Reports as to the fall of lambs are rather variable, some putting 

 it as about average, and others as rather less. But there seems to be 

 very generally a rather heavy mortality among the lambs or the ewes 

 —particularly among ewes in Somerset and Dorset. Complaints are 

 also numerous that the ewes are in poor condition — owing partly to the 

 wet and partly to the shortness of roots; that they are not giving 



