150 Mean Besults of the Thermometer at Alford, 



These observations were commenced eight years ago ; and 

 the hours chosen for them, namely, 9J a.m. and 8^ p.m., were 

 the two at which the mean temperature of the year had 

 occurred at Leith, when a series of hourly observations had 

 been made there about fifteen years ago, at the suggestion of 

 Sir David Brewster. At 7\lford, however, the yearly tem- 

 perature at the morning hours has uniformly been found con- 

 siderably higher than that of the evening ones; shewing that 

 the hours do not answer here as at Leith. It is highly pro- 

 bable, however, that the mean between the temperatures of 

 the two hours is very nearly the mean of the year ; and the 

 probability seems reduced to a certainty, when the mean of 

 the two has been found to agree so nearly with the mean of 

 the daily highest and lowest, which have been registered here 

 for the first time in 1840. Sir David Brewster having noticed 

 the registers of the seven previous years, and examined the 

 temperatures of the morning and evening, and their differ- 

 ences, has calculated that the yearly mean temperature at 

 Alford occurs at a quarter before 9 a.m. and 8 p.m. Our 

 observations will therefore be made at these hours in future ; 

 and the daily highest and lowest temperature will be con- 

 tinued, as indicating, with accuracy, not only the mean of 

 the year, but also that of the months. 



No year ever varied more, from time to time, in its promis- 

 ing or threatening aspect than did 1840 ; exciting alternate 

 hopes and fears in the agriculturist. The season of sowing 

 was unusually dry, owing to deficiency of rain from 4th Feb- 

 ruary to 5th May, and a high temperature, with clear sun 

 and withering winds in April. In the drought, the hay grass 

 shot up prematurely to seed, and ultimately turned out a 

 light crop. At the same time there occurred numerous and 

 extensive failures in the potato crop, altogether unexampled 

 in this district, and which could be, with great precision, re- 

 ferred to the drought ; as they were greatest on the driest 

 soils, especially where, by the operations of planting, the drills 

 were longest opened up to the sun and wind, and where very 

 dry manure was applied. Some instances clearly indicated 

 an easily applicable means of preventing failure in hke dry 

 weather for the time to come. Where manure saturated 



