( X ) 
HAY HARVEST FORECASTS, 1885. 
" Sir, 
" I BEG to submit herewith a report on the Hay Harvest Forecasts for 
1885. 
"The issue of the forecasts commenced on June 15th, with those for 
England E., the Midland Counties and England, S., and as the time advanced 
those for other districts were added. The forecasts were issued daily (ex- 
cepting on Sundays), and in most instances they were sent for about five 
weeks. In two or three cases, however, they were continued until the close 
of the wheat harvest; the additional expense of this extension was borne iu 
one instance (Knutsford) by Lord Egerton of Tatton. 
" It was scarcely probable that the high percentage of success noticed last 
year in England, E., and^England, S., would be maintained, but the result of 
this year's checking shows that while, owing to a falling off in the number of 
partial successes, the general percentage was a little lower than in the two 
preceding years, the proportion of completely successful forecasts (56 per cent.) 
was much greater than in any year since the institution of the service. The 
largest general percentage (88) was reached in Scotland, N., Scotland, E., 
England, E., and England S., while the smallest (74) was in Scotland, W., 
and England, N.W. 
" The following is a brief resume of the larger table appended to this 
report : — 
" Summary of Results. 
Districts. 
Scotland, N. 
Scotland, E. 
England, N.E. 
England, E. 
Midland Counties 
England, S. 
Scotland, W. 
England, N.W 
England, S.W. 
Ireland, N. .. 
Ireland, S. .. 
Names of Stations. 
Golspie and Munlochy .. 
(Grange, Glamis, Aber-^ 
t feldy, and Lougniddry / 
Chatton and Ulceby 
(Thorpe, Ditchingham, 
\ and Rothamsted .. 
J Cirencester and Gerrard'a 
\ Cross 
Maidstone and Downton 
(Dumbarton, Islay, andj 
\ Stranraer / 
JLeyburn, Prescot, and) 
( Kimtsford 
i Bridgend, (Glamorgan), 
Faltield, Clifton, and 
Glastonbury 
(Antrim, Moynalty, and 
\ Hollymount 
(Moneygall, Kilkenny, and 
\ Ardfert 
Mean for all districts . . 
Percentages. 
Total 
Per- 
Complete 
Success. 
Partial 
Success. 
Partial Total 
Failure. Failure. 
centage, 
of 
Success. 
48 
40 
6 
6 
88 
57 
II 
I 
88 
6o 
18 
19 
3 
78 
64 
24 
10 
2 
88 
63 
23 
12 
2 
86 
60 
28 
12 
88 
51 
23 
21 
5 
74 
51 
23 
31 
5 
74 
63 
24 
II 
2 
87 
49 
27 
17 
7 
76 
I 50 
27 
18 
77 
56 
26 
15 
3 
82 
