( IV ) 



greatest fall at any place was 1-9 inches at Cockermoutli in Cumber- 

 land. The reading of the barometer was remarkably high. The 

 temperature frequently exceeded 80° at places south of 53° latitude, 

 and in some cases rose to 85°, 86°, and 87°. The average daily 

 excess of temperature was 7i° for the whole month, which proved 

 to be the hottest month of the year. In consequence of this 

 remarkable weather, the cereal harvest was generally completed 

 earlier than it has been here for many years past. The yield of 

 the wheat crop was spoken of as variable both in quality and 

 quantity, and was thought to fall short of an average. The barley 

 crop was not so deficient.* At the end of the month rain was much 

 needed to assist the working of the plough, and to supply water 

 for cattle, as many ponds were dried up. 



The mean temperature of these three months was G2°'5 ; in the 

 year 1859, for the same period, it was 62°"8 ; in 1857 was 63°.3 ; in 

 184G was 62°-6 ; in 1825 was 62°-3; in 1818 was 63°-5 ; in 1780 was 

 62°-7 ; and in 1779 was 63°-2. In all other years back to 1771 it 

 was below 02°. 



The mean temperature of September was 63*9°, being 7° above the 

 average of the same month in the preceding 24 years, and 7° above 

 that of 1864. The nearest approach to this high temperature was 

 60°-3 in 1858; 60°-l in 1846; 60°-7 in 1818; 62°-3 in 1815; 60°-8 

 in 1795 ; and 60°'7 in 1779 ; so that this month was by more than 

 1^° of higher temperature than any on record. 



Both the day and night temperatures were above their averages 

 in July and September, and were both below in August. The excess 

 of 9° by day and 5° by night in September is very remarkable. 



The remarkably fine and dry weather which had prevailed in 

 September continued during the first week in October: the baro- 

 metrical reading during this time was about 30 in. ; at the beginning 

 of the second week there were indications of a change, the tempera- 

 ture fell, and the barometrical pressure decreased on ihe 12th day to 

 nearly 29 in., then increased rapidly to 29*9 in. by the 15th, and 

 decreased to below 29 in. by the 18th day; from this time rain fell 

 very heavily, and heavy gales of wind were experienced ; the weather 

 continued stormy to the end of the month, rain falling in abundance. 

 At the beginning of November there were frequent gales, and much 

 stormy weather; at about the 10th day the weather assumed a more 

 settled character, the barometrical reading ascended above the 

 average, and was nearly 30*4 in. on the 12th; from the 17th to the 

 22nd it decreased very rapidly, and was 28*8 in. on the last men- 



* The light lands suffered geverely from the drought, the Eastern counties espe- 

 cially from a frost in May ; but the good, strong lands bore a full average crop of 

 cereals.— P. H. F. 



