6 Agriculture of Shropshire. 



with great accuracy and care.* In Table No. I. (p. 3) the climate 

 of each month in the year is shown, and the observations are spread 

 over a sufficient length of time to give these averages a considerable 

 degree of certainty; whilst in Table No. II. (p. 4) the climate of 

 each separate year is given, which will enable a comparison to be 

 made, showing as it does the limits within which the climate of 

 Shropshire varies. In Table No. III. (p. 5) I have collected some 

 information upon the climate of the different seasons. These obser- 

 vations were taken by Mr. Blunt of Slirewsbury. In Table No. IV. 

 (p. 5) I have shown the prevailing winds, compiled from obser- 

 vations taken by Rev. J. Brooke, of Haughton Hall, ShifFnal. 

 With these data a comparison may be instituted between this 

 county and any other. For information respecting the climates 

 of different districts, the reader is referred to Mr. Whitley's Prize 

 Essay, ' The Climate of the British Islands.' * 



The Eastern side of Shropshire possesses a dry and warm 

 climate ; but the west and south-western sides are subject to 

 heavy falls of rain and a very moist atmosphere. This is caused 

 by the lofty hills which gather the rain-bearing clouds brought 

 by the west and south-west winds ; and these being cooled by 

 contact with the mountainous ridges throw down considerable 

 quantities of rain, and then pass on over the warmer part of the 

 county without depositing much rain. Thus, whilst in the south 

 and western portions, rain is produced chiefly by the hilly 

 nature of the district, on the eastern part it is generally produced 

 by cold winds from the east or north-east piercing the western 

 rain-bearing currents, and thus compelling them to make further 

 deposits of moisture. 



The western valleys, owing to their moisture, are also ex- 

 tremely liable to injurious hoar-frosts, and their productiveness 

 is considerably affected by them. The cold of winter is often 

 severe in the west from the winds which come from the Welsh 

 hills. On the east the winters are considerably milder, nor do 

 we here experience at any time of the year such sudden changes 

 in the temperature of the day and night as our more western and 

 southern neighbours have to combat with. This is very im- 

 portant, especially in the seasons of growth. As we shall have 

 occasion to refer from time to time to this subject, I shall at 



* To Lord Wrottesley, Eev. J. Brooke of Haughton Hall, near ShifFnal, Mr. 

 Thomas Blunt of Shrewsbury, and Mr. F. Morton of the Wrottesley Observatory, 

 my best thanks are due, for placing at my disposal the valuable observations I have 

 condensed into the foregoing tables. Wrottesley Observatory is 525 feet above the 

 level of the sea, lat. 52° 37' 2", long. Oh. 8m. 49s. W. ; the bulb of the ther- 

 mometer, 4 feet from the ground. The rain-gauge is 22 feet from the ground, 

 and 547 feet above the level of the sea. Shrewsbury is situated lat. 52° 42' 28'', 

 and long. 2^ 44' 53" W., and about 300 feet above the level of the sea. 



* Journal of the Koyal Agricultural Society, vol. ii. p. 1. 



