METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURINT, THE YEAR 1904. 277 



February, — The depression wliich set in during the last week 

 of January intensified, consequently the weatlier during the first 

 half of the month was very disagreeable, being dull and cold, 

 with occasional showers of sleety rain and snow, accompanied 

 by raw, biting winds. On the 10th, when there was a sharp touch 

 of frost, a dense, disagreeable fog enveloped the city. High 

 wind and lieavy rain prevailed on the 12th and 13th. The 

 latter half of the mouth was somewhat better but changeable 

 and rainy. 



As in January, the barometric readings were varied and 

 irregular in course, though not quite so wide in range. From 

 2910 inches on the 1st, the pressure was very erratic, falling 

 to 28-50 inches on the 13th, thereafter rising irregularly, until, 

 on the 28th, it was at 30-10 inches, falling therefrom on the 29th. 



Frost to the amount of 48' was registered on 14 days. The 

 average temperatures were also low — maximum 41° and minimum 

 32°. These low averages are doubtless due as much to the cold 

 raw winds as to the frosts, which were not in any sense severe. The 

 rainfall for the month was also slight, as only 2-28 inches were 

 recorded. The greatest fall for one day was 0-54 inch, occurring 

 on the 22nd. There were 14 dry days. 



The impulse which vegetation had received from the open mild 

 weather of January was not materially checked by the somewhat 

 colder conditions which prevailed during this month. Snowdrops 

 were at their best between the 10th and 22nd. AVinter Aconites 

 {Eranthis hyemalis) were in full bloom by the latter date, and 

 the early blue Crocus also showed bloom. The flower-buds 

 on deciduous trees— notably the Elms and Willows — were well 

 advanced. That interesting shrub, Garrya elliptica, was in bloom 

 on the 10th, and Rhododendron prcecoo: by the 20th ; the latter, 

 however, was somewhat damaged by frost on the 29th. 



March. — Though dry and frosty, the early part of this month 

 was somewhat cheerless owing to the prevalence of cold easterly 

 winds. A snowstorm occurred on the 6th, and durin" 

 the continuance of the frost the fog-veil overhung the 

 city with more or less density. On the 16th the weather 

 freshened, and, for a week, was somewhat changeable but milder, 

 and continued to improve during the remainder of the month. 



