METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1898. 325 



days thereafter the atmosphere was clear and mild, with occasional 

 showers of rain. Strong south-west winds again prevailed on the 

 14th and 15th, and from the 18ch to the 25th there was a spell of 

 frost accompanied by showers of snow. Thunder was heard on 

 the 26th, and on the 28th there was a heavy shower of hail and sleet. 



Frost totalling 67° for thirteen mornings was registered during 

 the month, while the average maximum temperature was 44°, and 

 the average minimum was 33°. The total rainfall was 3-52 inches, 

 and there were 11 dry days. 



Vegetation at the beginning of the month was in an advanced 

 state, many deciduous shrubs were almost bursting into bud, and 

 Rhododendron Xobleanum, Hort., showed the tint of its flowers, 

 while the growth of grass was remarkable so early in the season, 

 but it received a decided check by the prevalence of cold winds 

 and frost in the latter part of the month. 



March, — The cold frosty weather of the closing days of February 

 continued into this month with more or less severity until the 

 10th, when, with a change of wind to the south-west, better 

 weather conditions prevailed. On the 16th the weather became 

 boisterous and unsettled, and continued so till the close of the 

 month. The maximum (day) temperature averaged 46°, and the 

 minimum (night) 34°. Frost was registered on ten mornings, 

 amounting to 45°. Dense fog was experienced on the 8th. 

 The hio:hest readins; of the barometer was on the 25th, 

 when it reached 30*15 inches, after which it fell gradually to 

 29-15 on the 29th, the lowest reading of the month. The rainfall 

 was low for the month, only 1-65 inches being recorded, while 

 there were 19 dry days. In the corresponding month in the two 

 previous years the rainfall exceeded four inches. 



April. — The month opened with fine clear weather. Frost was 

 registered on only one morning during the month, and the 

 thermometer touched freezing point on but one other occasion. 

 There were 21 drv davs durin*? the month, and the rain- 

 fall was 1*65 inches. The average maximum temperature 

 was 55°, and the average minimum 41°. The atmospheric 

 pressure was comparatively steady throughout, the highest 

 reading being 29-93 and the lowest 29-15. 



Owing to the genial character of the weather the most of the 

 trees in the parks burst into leaf, and shrubs into flower, especially 



