METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1900. 201 



prevailing during the month, but towards the close, with a 

 warmer sun, buds began to swell and the grass to make some 

 growth. Snowdrops were in full bloom about the middle of the 

 month, and towards the end crocuses came into flower. 



April. — This month was bright and sunny, though there was a 

 prevalence of cold winds and considerable rain. From the 18th 

 to the 25th the days were bright and sunny. There was a 

 comparative absence of frost throughout the month, only 14° 

 being recorded for six mornings, and the average maximum 

 temperature was 55° and the average minimum 38°, as compared 

 with 52' and 37° respectively for the preceding April. 



The barometric record for the month was wide and erratic, 

 ranging from 28*90 inches to 30*25 inches. 



The rainfall was 2*14 inches, and there were 16 dry days. 



Owing to the cold winds of the month vegetation did not make 

 great progress, and trees and shrubs put forth their leaves but 

 slowly. Grass, however, made some growth, stimulated by the 

 frequent showers and spells of sunshine. Hyacinths and narcissi 

 were in full bloom by the 26th, making a very good appearance, 

 though the latter were not quite so floriferous as in the preceding 

 year. The lateness in blooming of that early variety of hybrid 

 rhododendron "Eugenie" indicated the tardiness of growth. 

 Frequently it is in full bloom by the end of April, whereas this year 

 it was past the middle of the month ere it began to open its flowers. 



May. — The month opened well with two fine days, when the 

 atmosphere was dry and warm, but on the 3rd and 4th the wind 

 increased to a gale, and the weather became damp and raw. 

 Till the 9th the atmospheric conditions continued dull and 

 showery, but on this day the wind, which had been mainly from 

 the south-west, changed to the east, and a period of dry and 

 cold days were experienced. On the 18 th the wind again turned 

 to the south-west, and was followed by warmer and more 

 seasonable weather, which lasted till the close of the month. 



The barometric readings ranged, with no particularly rapid 

 change, from 30*00 inches on the 13th to 29*10 inches on the 22nd, 

 and the rainfall of the month was 2*19, with 17 dry days. 



Frost was registered this month on one morning, 2° being 



