146 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



occasions the thermometer was at or above 70°, and the average 

 maximum temperature was 69° and the minimum 53°, being 

 higher than the previous August by 4° and 2° respectively. The 

 rainfall was only 1*38 inches, which is the lowest recorded for 

 this month for a number of years, August of 1898 having a total 

 of 4*77 inches. There were 23 dry days in the month. 



The great heat and drought experienced during the month 

 ripened the leaves of most deciduous trees, and some defoliated 

 rapidly, notably limes, sycamore, elms, and beech. The great 

 heat experienced during the month materially helped the develop- 

 ment and maturation of the cereals, which were in a somewhat 

 backward condition on cold heavy soils, and harvesting was 

 begun earlier than was generally anticipated. 



September. — This month was showery and unsettled, with some 

 thunderstorms about the 26th, when the barometer fell to 28*86 

 inches. There were only 5 dry days in the month, and the total 

 rainfall was 3*71 inches. Although no frost was registered, the 

 nights towards the close of the month were cold, the thermometer 

 on the grass falling below freezing point on several occasions. 



The average temperatures for the month were — maximum 59° 

 and minimum 46°. 



The barometer was steady between 29-00 inches and 30*00 

 inches till the thunderstorm and heavy rain of the 26th, when it 

 fell half-an-inch in twenty-four hours. 



The unsettled atmospheric conditions which obtained during 

 the month militated very considerably against harvesting 

 operations, and many farmers had considerable difficulty in getting 

 these operations satisfactorily performed. 



October. — For the first half of this month there was a con- 

 tinuation of the mild showery weather which prevailed during 

 September. On the 13th, with a rising barometer, the weather 

 became bright and cold, and on the 14th the first frost of the 

 season was experienced, when 3° were registered at Queen's Park. 

 This bright clear weather continued till the 24th, and the 

 remaining days of the month were dull and showery. 



The rainfall was rather above the average, the amount registered 

 being 3*57 inches. There were 15 dry days. 



