362 



July, and August, was so excessive as to be commonly spoken of as " the drought.' 

 During this period, the difference of reading between the dry and wet bulb 

 thermometers was commonly lo or 12 degrees, sometimes 14, and, occasionally 

 16 ; a very extraordinary difference for this climate. 



During the year 238 days were registered as fine or dry. 



The heat from May to August was at times very great. On the i8th of May 

 the thermometer in the shade rose to 8i'75 degrees, and on the 5th of August to 

 81 degrees; but the highest reading for the year (83 degrees) was registered on 

 the 19th of July. 



Only one thunder-storm of any importance occurred at Hereford during the 

 whole year : this storm took place on the 3rd of September, and lasted only 

 three-quarters of an hour, in which space of time 0-785 of an inch of rain fell, 

 the greater portion in the first twenty minutes. 



The coldest weather occurred in January and February. In January the 

 frost was severe, day and night, from the 2nd to the 9th. In February the 

 frosts were severe at nights from the 5th to the nth. The lowest reading of the 

 thermometer (1775 degrees) was registered during the January frost, and again 

 in February. 



The mean reading of the barometer for 1864 is high. The mercury rose 30 

 inches, or higher, on in days, and fell below 29 inches on 12 days only. The 

 greatest range of the barometer took place in November: on the 6th of that 

 month the mercurial column was 30*503 inches in height, and on the 14th the 

 reading at 9 a.m. was 28 "497 inches. 



These readings, it must be observed, are not reduced to sea-level, but they 

 are corrected for temperature, index-error, and capillarity. 



Assuming the late Mr. Lawson's estimate of the mean rainfaU for Hereford 

 to be correct (27'i45 inches) we are this year about 7 inches short of our average 

 supply ; the amount measured being only 20"i46 inches. 



Observations with the dry and wet bulb thermometers were not commenced 

 until February, and this registration being necessarily imperfect, the results are 

 not included in the table for the year ; but I have made up a table showing the 

 degree of humidity for each day of the month from April to August, together 

 with the rain-fall. 



Ozone registration was commenced much later in the year, and several 

 places were tried before a satisfactory spot could be found. Scarcely a trace of 

 ozone could be discovered in the Hereford atmosphere, but at last the Ozono- 

 meter was placed on Eign HOI, with very satisfactory results. In commencing 

 this class of observations, I have had the advantage of Dr. Kemp's advice and 

 assistance. The Doctor found the Bartonsham a better station for ozone obser- 

 vations than the City, but Eign Hill — already mentioned — has proved infinitely 

 superior to either. 



