60 



A RKGISTKll OF TlIK WKATIlIiR AT SIIANGHAE 



Obs. — The continued fall of rain during the past week, although not 

 up to this time of essential danuif^e to the crops, it is much feared by 

 the Chinese will produce an injurious eH'ect, from the continued mois- 

 ture of the ground leading to mould, smut, &c. Several fields of a 

 species of Brassica (?), used by the Chinese in the preparation of oil, are 

 now in fidl bloom, and impart a delightful fragrance to the surrounding 

 atmos})here. The average temperature of the week has only attained 

 57'6 ; of the corresponding week last year it was 61 '2°. 



Week ending 1st May, 1851. 



Obs. — The weather has continued disagreeable during the last week 

 up to to-day. The wheat crops do not seem to have suffered materially 

 from the continued wet otherwise than by the undue development of the 

 stalks, and consequent deficiency in that of the ears ; the grains are now 

 forming rapidly. The beans are healthy ; in many places the pods 

 have attained a length of three inches, containing seeds two lines in 

 their greatest diameter. The peasants were observed yesterday for the 

 first time scattering cotton seed among the wheat, to be ready to take 

 the place of the latter crop when cut down. The average temperature 

 during the past week has been 57-4° ; during the corresponding week of 

 1850 it attained an average of 65-3° — an excess of heat over the present 

 season of no less than 7 9°. On comparing the range of the thermo- 

 meter during the whole of April in both years, it will be found that the 

 average of 1850 was 594°, while it has only attained to 556° in the 

 present year. 



