77 



May, July, and August being specially dry. This year there was again a 

 splendid wheat crop in this county. 



1868. — This year is so fresh in our memory from the intense heat and 

 drought of June and July that it requires but little mention. The drought may be 

 said to have lasted (for there were only two showers in the interval, one on the 

 21st June, and the other on the 11th July) from the 29th May till the 6th of 

 August, or 67 days, and this during the hottest part of the year. After a period 

 of heavy rains, amounting to 4.27 inches in 19 days, a second drought set in on 

 the 23rd August and lasted unbroken till the 17th of September, or 25 days. 



The total rainfall at Rosa for 1S68 was nevertheless 29.04, or about two 

 inches above the average. 



1869.— In this year, after a dry April and a very wet May, drought set in 

 on the same day as on the previous year, and although not so uninterrupted as 

 in 1868 and accompanied with less intense heat it lasted till the 5th September. 

 During this period of 100 days only 2. 45 inches of rain felL 



The total rainfall of 1869 was however more than in any year since 1852, 



on account of the heavy falls in the early spring as well as in the autumn and 



winter. 



1S70. — It may be asked how does the drought of the present year, the 



disastrous effects of which upon vegetation are daily witnessed, compare with 

 other similar periods. Our persevering observer, Mr. Isbell, will doubtless 

 furnish full details in due time. There is no doubt, however, that from the 

 8th of February last, till the 22nd August, there was an extraordinary 

 deficiency of rain. This will be seen by the following comparison of the 

 years of smallest rainfall, 1852 to 1870 : — 

 1870.— Feb. 8th to ^ 



days, or "about 6 fat Boss. ) 5 - 30inches 



mths. and a half ) \ 



1864. -March 11th l^^. , ,, ( 



to Sept. 14, 1864 Sf t T s ' < 5.60 „ 



-187 days j at Koss. (^ 



1854.— Jan. 1st to ( Rainfall ' 



July 1st, 1854... J at Ross. 

 1863.— Feb. to May (inc.) ... 

 1864.— May to August ,, ... 

 1868.— April to July „ ... 

 1870.— Ditto „ ... 



1863.— Feb., March, April ... 

 1864. — June, July, August... 



May, June, July 2.70 



1868.— ' Ditto 2.37 



1969.— June, July, August... 2.40 



1870.— April, May, June 2.40 



May, June, July 2.93 



1852. — March and April 0. 735 



1868.— June and July 0. 740 



1865.— September 0.07 



6.90 



4.20 

 3.45 



4.58 

 3.56 

 3.32 

 2.74 



In the six 

 months. 



In four 



consecutive 



months. 



For thrf e 



consecutive 



months. 



"J For two 



K consecutive 

 j months. 

 ) Driest single 

 J month. 



* Of this amount 1 inch fell in the first 4 days in March ; 1 inch from the 10th to 13th 

 May ; and nearly 1 inch in a heavy shower early in July. There were heavy thunder storms 

 during July in places, but very local and partial ; and there was scarcely any rain besides. 



