Weather and Natural History Notes, 1910. 26S 



from 1.5 per 1000 in 1907 to 0.9 occurred in 1908. In 190& 

 the mortality rose again to 1.3, and in 1910 it is back to 1.1. 

 There is some hope, therefore, that with increased efforts at 

 prevention and cure the white man's plague may eventually dis- 

 appear entirely from our mortality lists, or at least appear so 

 rarely as to become an almost negligible quantity. 



Weather and Natural History Notes, 1910. By Mr J. 

 Rutherford, Jardington. 



January. — The weather for the first 10 days of the new year 

 was warm, mild, and cloudy, with frequent rain, but not heavy, 

 with the temperature above the average. On 3 days the tem- 

 perature in the screen, 4 feet above the ground, was 53 deg. The 

 following 10 days were of a more wintry character, with sudden 

 changes from frost and thaw to rain and snow. The last 10 days 

 of the month were very wintry, as regards storm and cold, quite a 

 contrast to the first 10 days, which were like spring. The wind 

 for the first fortnight was principally from the W. and S.W., and 

 for the remainder N. or N.E. There is an old proverb, " As the 

 days lengthen the cold strengthens." The truth of this proverb 

 is confirmed by observation and experience. I believe the coldest 

 period of the year, in this country, occurs about the third week 

 of January on an average. This may seem a little strange as we 

 would naturally expect that after the sun had passed its lowest 

 altitude and the days began to lengthen that the temperature 

 would rise. The reverse takes place, and the reason for this 

 delay in the rise of temperature is that for some time after the 

 year begins the earth continues to loose more heat by radiation 

 during the night, than it gains from the sun during the day, there- 

 fore the temperature falls and does not begin to rise until the 

 heat received exceeds the heat radiated. Snow fell on several 

 days, but not in any quantity. The hardest frost and coldest 

 nights of the year were on the 26!h and 27th, when the ther- 

 mometer registered 2 and 5 deg. respectively on the grass, and 

 8 and 10 deg. in the screen. The highest maximum temperature 

 was 53 deg. on 3 days ; lowest, 32 deg. Highest minimum, 48 

 deg. ; lowest, 8 deg., on the 25th; lowest on the grass, 2 deg., on 

 the 25th. Frost on the grass on 21 days. In the screen on 16 

 days. The range of the barometer was from 29 to 30.5 inches. 



