METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1902. 41 



29-00 inches. In 1901 the figures were 93 and 16 times 

 respectively. 



In comparing the records of 1902 with those of the previous 

 year, we find few features of similarity. The most marked was 

 the low rainfall. With a season in which bright sunny weather 

 was specially notable, a rainfall below the average might be 

 looked for ; but with a sunless season, such as was experienced, 

 a rainfall so much lower is somewhat surprising. A more sunless 

 season has not been for many decades, and the general lowness 

 of temperature, without any redeeming feature, caused a feeling 

 of discomfort in the climatic conditions very disappointing after 

 the bright hopes raised by the glorious weather which prevailed 

 so fortuitously in 1901. 



Regarding the general effect of the weather on vegetation, a 

 more unsatisfactory season could hardly be looked for. The 

 favourable conditions of the preceding year caused trees and 

 shrubs to develop and mature an extremely satisfactory growth, 

 hence the prospects of a brilliant floral display and an abundant 

 fruit harvest were of the best. These were rudely dispelled by 

 the untoward weather which prevailed when the trees were in 

 bloom, as the gales stripped blossom and leaf oif the plants, and also 

 shortened the flowering season. Rarely, indeed, were the promises 

 so good and the results so meagre as regards the fruit crops. 



With regard to the growth made by annual plants, for a 

 time progress was slow, and the pi'ospects gloomy. Still, on the 

 whole, the results were fairly good, and a fair average obtained 

 in most crops, even with the difficulties in harvesting, which was 

 a somewhat prolonged and vexatious operation. 



The cold sunless season has had its effect on perennial plants, 

 and the growth generally is below the usual standard. Rhodo- 

 dendrons and azaleas are sparsely set with flower buds. Deciduous 

 plants, which form the greater bulk of our best flowering sub- 

 jects, though but moderately furnished with flower buds, may, 

 with genial weather conditions, give better results than when 

 they are overloaded vnth flowers, as the development of an 

 abnormal amount of bloom causes exhaustion, and too frequently 

 is a contributing cause in the failure or sparsity of the fruit 

 crops in our orchards and woodlands. 



In a City whose population is increasing annually by 12,000, 



