NOTES AND REMARKS UPON THE WEATHER. 127 



vegetation, though the Incomparabilis and late-flowering section 

 of narcissi bloomed as well as the earlier ones had done, 

 and made an effective display on lawns and borders along with 

 erythroniums, scillas, and other spring flowers. During the dry 

 weather much was done throughout the district in the seeding 

 of arable land and planting of potatoes. 



May. — The cold, changeable weather which prevailed during 

 the latter half of April continued almost throughout this month ; 

 very few days passed without rain falling. While there were a 

 few mild days, on the other hand several were distinctly cold 

 and stormy, notably the 17th, 24th, and 25th. During the 

 afternoon of the 25th a sharp thunderstorm occurred, which was 

 accompanied by heavy rain and a most remarkable shower of 

 hail — in fact, more resembling broken ice than ordinary hail. 



Curiously, considering the changeable nature of the weather, 

 the barometric readings do not show a wide range in the 

 atmospheric pressure. The lowest reading was 29'30 inches on 

 the 3rd, and, though somewhat irregular in course, the highest 

 point indicated was 29'90 inches, on the 13th and 14th. The 

 only notably sharp decline was from the aforesaid point to 29'35 

 inches on the 17th, when, with a change in the wind from N.E. 

 to N.W., that day was cold, wet, and stormy. The pressure 

 after that date was fairly steady, ranging between 28'80 and 

 29-50 inches. 



Though only a total of 4° of frost on two days was recorded, 

 the radiating thermometer on the grass was frequently at 

 freezing point, and the general temperature continued low 

 throughout, consequently the average maximum, 54°, and 

 minimum, 42°, are lower than usual for May. In May, 1905, 

 the averages were 58° and 44° respectively, while the ther- 

 mometer never fell to freezing point. 



The rainfall amounted to 3*84 inches. No such amount has 

 been registered for May for many years. There were only 7 dry 

 days. In the previous May the rainfall was only 1*67 inches, 

 and there were 17 dry days. 



The unseasonable weather had a deterrent effect on vegetation. 

 Grass grew but slowly, and, while there was every promise of 

 an excellent display of bloom on most shrubs and trees, the 



