OBSERVED IN HERTFORDSHIRE IN 1903 . 
95 
The Autumn. 
September and November were of about average temperature 
and rainfall, while October proved very warm and persistently wet. 
There was a fair record of bright sunshine in September and 
November, whereas October proved an unusually gloomy month. 
Harvest began in August, but little progress was made during 
that month owing to frequent interruptions by rain. The first 
three weeks in September were, however, more favourable, and 
it was during that period that the greater part of the corn-crop 
was got in. Then came a return to rainy conditions, which lasted 
throughout the whole of October with virtually no intervals of fine 
weather at all. During that month the corn which still remained 
in the fields became much discoloured by the incessant rainfall, and 
in some cases the grain sprouted. With the advent of November 
a change to fine dry weather took place, and the remaining sheaves 
were soon harvested, an exceptionally prolonged and expensive 
harvest being at last brought to an end. Here and there, however, 
was to be seen even as late as December the unusual sight of 
shocks of corn still standing in the fields. The root-crops improved 
greatly in September and November, but made very little progress 
during the wet and dreary weather of October. Potatoes suffered 
greatly from the continued rain, and became much diseased and 
in many cases were not worth litting. Throughout the season 
there was alwaj^s, except of course in the low-lying lands which 
were flooded, plenty of herbage for the cattle in the pastures. 
During October the prospect all round appeared hopeless, but the 
situation was saved, at all events so far as it was then possible, by 
the continued fine weather in November, for the remains of 
harvest-work could then be cleared off, and mangolds and potatoes 
taken up. It also enabled the farmers to plough and clean the 
land, and to complete the sowing of winter corn under favourable 
conditions. 
By the horticulturist this change, late though it came, was also 
warmly welcomed, for it enabled all late-flowering plants to 
continue freely in bloom until their progress was finally arrested 
by frost. The winter supply of vegetables also improved. The 
fruit-trees, after a long succession of dry Summers, were greatly 
benefited by the abundant supply of water in the subsoil throughout 
the season. The only crop which the weather of the year entirely 
suited, both on farm and in garden, was the crop of weeds. The 
moisture in the subsoil also favoured the forest trees, which have 
not for some years been so luxuriant in foliage, or made such 
vigorous growth as the majority of them did in 1903. Blackberries 
were plentiful, but late in ripening; most other wild fruits, how¬ 
ever, were unusually scarce. Butterflies, wasps, and insects 
generally were not nearly so numerous as usual. 
According to the returns of farm-produce published by the 
Board of Agriculture for Hertfordshire, the yield of wheat was 
7 per cent, below the average for the previous ten years, of barley 
