Weather and Natural History Notes. 215 



temperature, 52 deg. on a number of days ; lowest, 36 deg. on the 

 2nd; highest minimum, 46 deg. on 16th j lowest, 18 deg. on the 

 1st. At and below 32 deg. on the grass on 21 days, and 10 days 

 in the screen. Rainfall, 4.36 inches. Barometer — lowest, 

 29 inches; highest, 30.72. 



March. 



Came in with a fine bracing clear air and sunshine and a 

 rather strong westerly breeze — a mixture of " lion and lamb ' ' 

 combineH. The 7th was specially mild and warm, with bright 

 sunshine. Larks, Lapwings, Curlews, hedges and gooseberry 

 bushes, were all voicing Spring, and our heart was in sympathy 

 with their song. After the first week rougher weather was noted. 

 After the 11th till the end of the month there was a continuance 

 of very cold, biting wind from the East and North-East, which 

 checked all growth, kept the fruit buds from coming forward, 

 and took all the green from the fields — a proverbial withering 

 March wind. The fields, which were fresh and green at the end 

 of February, had a grey and barren appearance at the end of 

 March. The rainfall was low, which allowed the farmers a good 

 opportunity for getting the land ready for the seed. On the 1st 

 the crows were noisy enough at their nests at Newton Rookery. 

 Flowers came into bloom earlier than in 1910. Lesser Celan- 

 dine on the 2nd; Anemone on the 10th; Flowering Currant on 

 the 30th. Sowing corn began on the 22nd, with the ground in 

 nice condition. Highest maximum temperature, 55 deg. on the 

 7th; lowest, 43 deg. on the 14th; highest minimum reading, 46 

 deg. on the 2nd; lowest, 28 deg. on the 12th. Lowest tempera- 

 ture on the grass, 20 deg. on the 12th. There were 9 days in 

 the screen when 32 deg. and under was registered, and 22 on 

 the grass. Highest barometer reading, 30.4 inches; lowest, 

 29.7. 



April. 



The cold, drv, barren weather which began in the middle of 

 March continued with us till the 12th of this month, when with a 

 change of wind from the East and North-East to the West and 

 South-West a change for the better in the weather set in. This 

 was followed on the 15th with nice refreshing rain (April showers), 

 which continued every day till the end of the month. With the 

 moisture and genial heat, the progress of vegetation was rapid. 



