above 90° in June, July, and August. Like 1750, there had been no previous 



winter. 



1847 — The heat of the previous summer was continued to a less extent 



this year. July and August were very hot, and there was a splendid vintage 



on the continent. 



1852 — A very hot fortnight in July in the midst of a wet season. 



1856— Beginning of August (July 30th to August 11th) intensely hot. 

 Thermometer above 90° on several days. This was succeeded by very heavy 

 rain, causing the wheat to lair badly. 



1857 — A very hot summer and autumn. 



1858 — The hottest June since 1S46, and about equal to it. 



1859— The hottest July since 1778. The whole summer being similar to 

 the year 1846. 



1863-1864 —were very fair summers. 



1S68— Another summer like 1859. Ther. 96°. 



1869-1870 — Both warm, fine, but not quite so hot as 1S68. 



It will be seen from the above records that the hot summers often 

 occur in groups of three or four together, and that of late we have had rather 

 an unusual prevalence. They are often preceded and sometimes succeeded 

 by warm winters. 



On recalling our past experience it appears, therefore, that there is nothing 

 unprecedented in the hot and dry period we have just had. 



RECORDS OF GREAT DROUGHT. 



A.D. 763, the summer was so hot that the springs were dried up. 



1100. — " The river Trent, at Nottingham, was dry from morning till 3 p.m. 

 for a mile in length, so that it could be passed with dry feet."- -Stoiv. 



1114. — April 4th, the river Thames was so dry that children waded over 

 between the bridges below London Bridge only knee deep ; and it was 

 afterwards dry for two days. — Stow. 



1276, 1277, 127S. — So hot and dry in the summer that scarcely any fodder 

 could be obtained fur the cattle. 



1281. — " The drought was so great that men passed over the river Thames 

 dryshod, between Westminster and Lambeth, and over the river Medway, 

 between Strood and Rochester." — Stun: 



1293, 1294.— Excessively hot and dry. 



13 15 was called the dry summer, as from March to the end of April little 

 or no rain fell, " by reason whereof corn was very scant the year following." — 

 Pigotfe "Chester." 



1354. — At Nottingham no rain fell from the end of March to the end 

 of July, a period of four months. 



ad 1539 were excessively hot summers, and the rivers dried up. 



1540. — Rain only fell six times from February to September 19th ; an 

 exceedingly early spring ; cherries ripe at the end of May ; grapes ripe in July ; 

 middle of harvest, June 2 



