150 METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS IN THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN. 



temperature was 5 degrees below the average. The niglits were 

 generally more or less frosty. In that of the 25th the thermo- 

 meter was 18 degrees below freezing. Scarcely any rain fell 

 till the 31st; and altogether the amount was less than has been 

 registered in any month for at least twenty-five years. 



April. — The mean temperature was fully maintained, and 

 there were no frosts to occasion any material check to vegeta- 

 tion. The amount of rain was a little above the average. S.W. 

 winds were prevalent. The mornings of the 4th and 5th were 

 boisterous. Several loud peals of thunder were heard between 

 12 and 1 p.m. on the 12th. The wind came from N.E. and E. 

 during the last five days of the month. 



May. — With fully an average temperature during the last 

 month, vegetation was considerably advanced at the commence- 

 ment of this. Fruit-trees were generally in blossom, and of this 

 much was killed on the 1st, the common thermometer being then 

 4 degrees, and the radiating one 9 degrees below freezing. But 

 on the night of the 2nd the common thermometer was 9 degrees 

 below freezing, whilst the radiating one was 13 degrees below 

 that point. There were, in consequence, scarcely any crops of 

 apples and pears, excepting on walls, and there they were con- 

 siderably injured. 



June. — The mean temperature was 1^ degrees below the 

 average ; and on the 15th there were 2 degrees of frost, accord- 

 ing to the indication of the common thermometer, the radiating 

 one at the same time indicating as many as 5 degrees below 

 freezing. The amount of rain was below the average. On the 

 3rd and 4th the air was excessively dry. The weather was very 

 fine between the 15th and 26th. On the 18tli tliere was a large 

 and distinctly luminous solar halo at noon. On the 26th light- 

 ning was seen at night ; and there were thunder and lightning 

 on the night of the 28th. 



July. — The mean temperature was fully a degree below the 

 average, and the amount of rain was iVths of an inch above the 

 usual quantity. The 3rd was boisterous, with lightning in the 

 evening ; and thunder and lightning occurred on the evening of 

 the 17th. On the 18th distant thunder was heard, and heavy 

 rain commenced at \ past 6 a.m. 



This was the only month in the year in which there was no 

 frost. 



August. — The mean temperature was nearly 3 degrees below 

 the average. The amount of rain little more than 4- of the 

 usual quantity, and nearly half of it fell on the 21st. The 

 weather, on the whole, was exceedingly favourable for the 

 harvest ; but fruit-trees and others suffered from dryness at the 

 root, so that if the frost liad spared a full crop, it could not have 



