( IX ) 
HAY HARVEST FORECASTS, 1884. 
" Sir, 
" I BEG to submit herewith a report on the Hay Harvest Forecasts for 
1884. 
" The issue of the forecasts commenced with those for the Midland Counties 
and England S., on June 9th, and as the time advanced those for other districts 
were added. The forecasts were issued daily (except on Sundaj's), and in 
most cases were continued for about five weeks. To Knutsford, however, 
they were sent for an additional five weeks at the expense of Lord Egerton 
of Tatton. 
" The result of the checking shows that the percentage of complete success 
is 43, or scarcely so high as in 1883, but that the partial successes (42) were 
higher than those for last year. This gives 85 as a general percentage of 
success, which value, though scarcely so high as in 1883, is still very much 
higher than in any of the previous years. The largest percentages were 
reached in England S. and England E. ; the values being 95 and 94 respec- 
tively, while the smallest proportion of good forecasts (78) was in England S.W. 
" It may be again remarked that the thundery weather in the northern 
districts was successfully forecast. 
" The following is a brief resume of the larger table on the other side : — 
" Summary of Results. 
Percentages. 
Districts. 
Names of Stations. 
Tout 
Per- 
ScoUand, N. 
Scotland, E. 
England, N.E. .. 
England, E. 
Midland Counties 
England, S. 
Scotland, W. 
England, N.W. .. 
England, S.W. .. 
Ii'eland, X 
Ireland, S 
Golspie and Munlochy . . 
(Longniddry, Glamis, and I 
\ Grange / 
Chatton and Ulceby 
' Eothamsted and Thorpe 
/Cirencester and Gen-ard'sl 
\ Cross / 
Maidstone and Downton 
flslay, Dumbarton, andj 
\ Stranraer j 
(Knutsford, Lej bm-n, and I 
\ Prescot / 
i Glastonbury, Bridgend, i 
(Glamorgan), Clifton,! 
and Falfield ) 
|Hollymount, Moynalty, \ 
\ and Antrim / 
(Kilkenny, Ardfert, audi 
\ Money gall • / 
Mean for all districts . 
Complete 
Success. 
Partial 
Success. 
Partial 
Failure. 
Total 
Failure. 
centage. 
of 
Success. 
39 
43 
16 
2 
82 
38 
45 
2 
83 
48 
35 
14 
3 
83 
56 
3a 
94 
43 
44 
n 
2 
87 
53 
42 
5 
95 
50 
37 
12 
I 
87 
41 
40 
15 
4 
81 
31 
47 
16 
6 
78 
32 
49 
13 
6 
81 
37 
4: 
18 
3 
79 
43 
42 
12 
3 
85 
"The remarks made by Major Smith and Messrs. Birkbeck and Dawson 
are worthy of note, and it may be added that the proposal to cease the forecasts 
was followed in several instances by a request for their further continuance. 
"l am, &c., 
(Signed) " Fkedc. Gasteb. 
" To K. H. Scott, Esq., 
" Secretary, Meteorological Council." 
