Xvi)theri<  of  Live  Stork  in  Great  Britain  in  1004.  381 
Cumberland,  Suffolk,  the  North  and  West  Ridings  of  Yorkshire,  Aberdeen,  and 
Forfar  also  show  material  losses  among  the  older  portion  of  their  herds. 
Sheep  have  continued  the  decline  that  has  been  a marked  feature  in  live 
stock  statistics  for  many  years  past.  On  this  occasion  the  diminution  amounts 
to  432,619  head,  or  1'7  per  cent,  of  the  total  in  1903.  The  most  important 
decreases  occur  in  the  north  of  England,  c.y.,  the  three  Ridings  of  York  and 
Cumberland,  and  also  in  Lincoln.  In  Scotland  the  chief  decreases  arc  in 
Argyll,  Perth,  and  Dumfries.  Ewes  kept  for  breeding  have  remained  practically 
stationary,  an  increase  south  of  the  Tweed  being  almost  counterbalanced  by  a 
decline  in  Scotland.  The  chief  increase  is  in  Kent,  which  accounts  for  exactly 
half  the  number  added  to  the  ewes  in  1904  in  England.  Lambs,  especially  in 
Scotland,  have  decreased,  the  lambing  season  having  been  unfavourable  in 
many  districts,  while  in  some  cases  the  reduction  in  numbers  is  ascribed  to  a 
greater  proportion  of  early  sales.  Sheep  of  one  year  and  above,  other  than 
breeding  ewes,  have  also  fallen  off,  especially  in  Yorkshire,  Lincoln,  and 
Cumberland. 
of  which  the  number  fluctuates  considerably  from  year  to  3'ear, 
eixhibit  an  increase  of  175,083,  or  6'5  per  cent.,  which  is  generally  distributed 
throughout  the  country.  This  is  attributed  in  several  counties  to  the  reduction 
of  swine  fever.  The  largest  increases  occur  in  Yorkshire,  Lincoln,  and  Norfolk, 
and  the  chief  exception  to  the  rule  is  Somerset.  Sows  kept  for  breeding, 
however,  show  a decline  of  2 per  cent. 
THE  WEATHER  DURING 
THE  AGRICULTURAL  YEAR,  1903-1904. 
From  any  ordinary  point  of  view  a year  which  inclnded  a 
summer  of  such  unusual  hrilliancy  as  that  of  1904  could 
scarcely  have  been  regarded  otherwise  than  as  a distinct 
success.  The  farmer’s  standpoint  is,  however,  very  different 
from  that  of  the  casual  observer.  To  him  every  portion  of  the 
year  brings  its  anxieties — from  the  autumn,  when  mild,  dry 
weather  is  needed  for  the  preparation  of  the  land  and  the  early 
sowing,  to  the  following  summer,  when  sunshine  and  warmth, 
interspersed  with  occasional  rains,  are  desired  for  the  ripening 
of  the  grain  and  the  due  nourishment  of  the  root  crops.  During 
the  past  season  natm-e  proved  less  kind  in  these  respects  than 
the  average  town  dweller  would,  perhaps,  have  imagined. 
The  drenching  rains  of  1903  began  to  moderate  a little  towards 
the  close  of  the  year,  but  the  succeeding  winter  had  far  more  than 
its  fair  share  of  moisture.  The  soddened  soil  had  therefore 
little  opportunity  of  recovering  from  the  ill  effects  it  had 
previously  siistained,  much  of  the  seed  sown  in  the  autumn 
being  rotted  before  it  had  had  time  to  germinate.  In  the 
spring  the  weather  was  drier,  but,  with  a great  absence  of 
sunshine,  the  growing  crops  met  with  little  encouragement, 
the  latter  part  of  the  season  being,  however,  sufficiently  fine  to 
lead  to  a good  hay  harvest,  secured,  for  the  most  part,  quickly. 
