28 



The rainfall of February is, as you will observe, but slightly more than 

 i/5th of the average amount; the nth of March ending a period of 36 days 

 with a rainfall of only a quarter of an inch. In April, again, the first twenty 

 days had only a rainfall of '025 of an inch. It is, however, in June that we 

 find the longest spell of fine weather, the3rd of July being the twenty-fifth day 

 absolutely without rain. Considerable inconvenience has been caused, as you 

 are well aware, by the meagre fall of rain, and which inconvenience has since 

 been extended into the present year. 



The severity of the weather during the earlier months of 1887 is easily 

 seen on comparing the mean temperatures with those of 1885, which is about 

 a normal and even year. Appended are the monthly mean temperatures for 

 the first months of 1885—6—7; but it must be remembered, in comparing 

 them, that the Spring of 1886 was abnormally cold. 



It will be noticed how the sudden burst into Summer weather in June 

 has affected the mean temperatures of June and July. The mean temper- 

 ature of the former month is four degrees higher than that for any year of 

 which I hdd records, that is since 1878. 



The total number of frosts during the first four months was no less than 

 92 — that is, out of a possible 120— and it was not until the first of June that 

 the last frost of the Winter was registered. The minimum temperature on 

 the ground for January, (7'o) is the lowest recorded since January, 1881. 



Winter returned upon us early, too, the first frost occurring on the 14th 

 August, and the first fall of snow taking place on October nth, seven weeks 

 earlier than in 1886. The thermometer on the same night registered 10 

 degrees below freezing point, an intensity of frost not equalled till December 

 2nd in the preceding year. In spite, however, of these rather ominous 

 portents, the temperature of the latter months of the year was, if anything* 

 above the average. 



