January 5th. 1923

Friday January 5th. 1923

Frosty
At home
E. Mayes Ploughing for Peas.
F. Reynolds at home in the morning
Ploughing for Peas in the afternoon

from "Agricultural Review of the Year 1922", printed in the diary

The season of 1922 proved another disastrous one for the grain growing farmer. The corn crops for the year are according to the Ministry of Agriculture less favourable both as regards yield per acre and condition and quality of the grain. The unsatisfactory yields are due mainly to the spring drought, although the cold, wet summer also had a bad effect. Autumn-sown crops came through the winter fairly well, in spite of a rather severe check occasioned by cold weather in March and April, which also caused spring corn to germinate slowly. Spring crops where sown late, suffered most from the dry weather, and frequently came up thin plants, while in some districts frit fly and wireworm damaged the oats severely. Crops ripened slowly and unevenly, and, with unfavourable weather at harvest, the ingathering was very protracted, and a fair proportion of the crops was harvested in rather damp condition. Wheat, however, is of very fair quality, and winter oats are generally satisfactory, but spring oats are of inferior quality, the grain being light. Much barley is discoloured, with a poor sample where there were two growths, and the proportion fit for malting is less than usaul. (sic)