218 Weather and Natural History Notes. 



ordinary heat wave. On the gra.s.s and exposed to the sun the 

 thermometer registered 126 deg. at 4 p.m. on the 11th. The 

 same thermometer has been in the same position for 25 years, 

 fully exposed to the afternoon sun, and registered to 135 deg. 

 It burst with the heat on the 12th. The heat required to do this 

 would evidently be at least 135 deg. A record temperature was 

 recorded on the 12th and 13th, when 92 deg. in the shade was 

 registered on both days. Observing the very high temperature, 

 I thought perhaps the sun's rays might be reflected in some way 

 through the slanting bars of the screen ; but I found on covering 

 the whole screen with a cloth that it in no way altered the reading. 

 As no rain fell till the 16th, and under an inch and a half till the 

 end of the month, grass, corn, and turnips all suffered ; but on 

 heavy land in good condition they did not suffer to the same 

 extent as they did on land which was poor and light. Com- 

 menced cutting meadow hay on the 3rd ; a good crop, secured 

 in fine condition without getting any rain. In my experience of 

 haymaking (in a small way), which extends to over 30 years, I 

 have not seen anything to compare with the haymaking of 1911. 

 The strong, bright sunshine dried the hay so quickly that on one 

 or two days hay that was cut in the morning was quite ready to 

 go into the hay-shed on the afternoon of the following day, just 

 about as green as when cut. The Harebell came into bloom on 

 the 7th, two days later than 1910; Black Knapweed on the 11th, 

 eight days earlier. Highest maximum temperature, 92 deg. on 

 the 12th and 13th; lowe.st, 62 deg. on the 1st and I7th; highest 

 minimum, 62 deg. on the 29th ; lowest reading, 42 deg. on the 

 9th. Lowest temperature on the grass, 35 deg on the 2nd. 

 Barometer was high and steady: Lowest, 29.8 inches; highest, 

 30.7. Thunder on the 29th and 30th. The wind was prin- 

 cipally from the West, South, and South-West. 



August. 



There was a continuance of the fine, warm, sunny weather, 

 quite charming to all except farmers and others whose water 

 supply for domestic purposes was getting very low and in many 

 cases stopped altogether. There was some rain which fell during 

 the first and last week; but the quantity was not sufficient to 

 benefit vegetation to any great extent or to increase the diminishing 



