METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1899. 151 



The barometric readings show a greater range of pressure than 

 in the preceding year. In this year the pressure was 82 times 

 above 30*00 inches. 259 times between 29*00 and 30*00 inches, 

 and 24 times below 29*00 inches. The highest reading was taken 

 on the 17th November, when the pressure was at 30*42 inches, 

 and the lowest reading was 28*26 inches on the 30th December; 

 in 1898 the highest was 30*30 inches on 23rd January, and the 

 lowest 28*30 inches on 28th December. 



The prevailing wind of the year, as is usual in Glasgow, was 

 the South-west, blowing from that direction on 189 days. The 

 number of days for the other directions were as follows : — 

 From the West, 53; North-west, 13; North-east, 35; East, 

 41 ; South, 7 ; and South-east, 26. Excluding the direct North 

 and South, the Western group shows 255 and the Eastern 

 group 102 days. In 1898 the Western had 283 and the Eastern 

 59 days. 



From the foregoing notes it will be seen that the weather of 

 1899 was, in many respects, of a totally different character from 

 that of the previous year. For instance, the year 1899 was 

 notable for the violent storms experienced during the first two 

 months, with the severe frosts of January, February, and March, 

 while in 1898 these months were comparatively mild and open. 

 August was much warmer and drier than in the preceding year, 

 and November was almost entirely free from frost. One 

 remarkable feature is that of the rainfall, which, as already stated, 

 is the highest for 10 years, despite the drought experienced during 

 the summer months. This district did not suffer so much from 

 the want of rain as many others in the kingdom, and, on the 

 whole, the season was fairly favourable for vegetation. Agri- 

 cultural crops, with perhaps the exception of hay and turnips, 

 were quite up to the average, and of excellent quality. The cold, 

 hard, frosty winds in May did serious damage to the fruit trees 

 when in bloom, consequently the crops were very light. A very 

 satisfactory growth was made by nearly all classes of trees and 

 shrubs, and the prospects of a bright display in park and woodland 

 are very satisfactory, as almost all species of trees are well set 

 with flower buds. The open weather of the later months has 

 induced a too free growtli on such shrubs as laurels, aucubas, and 

 the tissues are so surcharged with sap that they are in a bad 



