The Rainfall for the First Quarter of 1904. 



786 



The totals for the first quai-ter of the year bring out an excess 

 over the average for every part of Victoria,, but varying considerably 

 in actual amount. Thus the greatest rainfall occuri*ed in the districts 

 surrounding Port Phillip Bay, the South- Western Districts, iSouth 

 Gippsland, and the northern country east of the Campaspe river. In 

 the remaining areas the excess was less, and least of all for the basins 

 of the Tambo and Snowy rivers. 



The distribution of rain during the first quarter was not, however, 

 so satisfactory as the figures might at a first glance be assumed to 

 indicate. The heavy rains of January and February came too early 

 to be of mucli use for agricultural purposes and did some damage, 

 and the dryness of March, the time when abundant rain is most 

 necessary, retarded the preparation of the soil for sowing purposes, 

 and probably interfered to a considerable extent with pastoral 

 interests. 



PERCENTAGE RAINFALL TABLE for the First Quarter of the year 

 1904, showing the percentage above or below the average rainfall for 

 each month and for the first quarter in Victoria. 



