134 Report of Experiments on the Growth of Barley^ 
less tban tte usual aggregate amount of rain, though a good 
deal fell within a short interval about the middle of November, 
causing floods, and hindering autumn sowing in some localities. 
In January, 1867, the fluctuations were very great ; extreme 
cold and heavy falls of snow, alternating with rapid thaws, 
warm weather, heavy gales, and a good deal of rain. The last 
week of January, and almost the whole of February, were very 
unusually warm, with a large amount of rain at the beginning, 
and a moderate quantity over the rest of the period. Marcb, 
again, was almost to the conclusion very cold and wintry, with a 
good deal of snow. Throughout the quarter there was a suc- 
cession of gales of wind. Owing to the severe weather of 
March, the growth of winter-sown crops was checked ; and 
owing partly to the wetness, and partly to the frost, the pre- 
paration of the land for spring-sowing was much retarded. 
April, and the beginning of May, were very unsettled ; stormy, 
rainy, and changeable as to temperature ; but, on the average, 
warmer than usual. Later in May, besides some very warm, 
there was a longer period of extremely cold weather, with a dry 
atmosphere, and frosty nights, much checking vegetation ; 
though, during the month, there was rather more than the 
average fall of rain. June was comparatively dry, very change- 
able as to temperature, but on the average colder than usual. 
The cold weather continued throughout July and the beginning 
of August, and the period was generally sunless and cloudy, 
Avith an excess of rain in July, which fell very heavily towards 
the end of the month, and much laid, and in some cases inun- 
dated, the crops. The remainder of August, and September, were 
much finer, rather warmer than the average, though with rather 
more than the average fall of rain ; which, however, was not 
much distributed, but fell for the most part in considerable 
quantities at a time. 
Thus, the early winter was, upon the whole, warmer and drier 
than usual ; then came intervals of severe frost, snow, and heavy 
gales, followed by several weeks of very warm weather, with a 
good deal of rain. The early spring was very wintry and 
stormy, and both growth and spring-sowing were retarded. The 
remainder was very changeable as to temperature ; at first warmer, 
afterwards very unseasonably cold, and throughout frequently 
stormy and rainy. The rest of the growing, as well as the early 
ripening period, was changeable, though for the most part un- 
seasonably cold, cloudy, and sunless, with a great deal, and some 
very heavy falls, of rain, which much laid the crops. The 
harvest-time, though late, and including some heavy rains, was, 
however, upon the whole, not unfavourable for the greater portion 
of the Midland, Southern, and Eastern districts. 
