METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1897, 167 
temperature was below 40° twelve days, consequently the averages 
are low—the maximum being 57° and the minimum 40°, against 
63° and 43° respectively in May, 1896. 
The prolonged cold, hard weather had its natural effect on 
vegetation. The Qak came into leaf on the 19th and the Ash on 
the 24th, the former sixteen and the latter twelve days later than 
"in 1896. Apples, Pears, Hawthorns, Lilacs, Rhododendrons, &c., 
were likewise about the same time later in blooming. The Cuckoo 
was heard in Camphill on the 26th. 
June.—The weather throughout this month was changeable, 
with frequent heavy rains. The first three days were cold and 
wet, a very severe thunderstorm occurring on the 2nd and 3rd. 
For a week afterwards we had dry weather and occasional bright 
sunshine, with the winds easterly. After the 10th, when the 
wind moved to the west, for a fortnight the weather, though milder, 
was very unsettled, and much rain fell. Towards the end of the 
month it became drier and more pleasant. Twice during the month 
the rivers were in full flood owing to the heavy rainfall—first 
with the rains of the 2nd and 3rd, when the quantities registered 
_ were 0°87 and 0°74 inch respectively; then with the extraordinary 
rainfall of the 16th, when 1°60 inches were recorded. The total 
amount of rain which fell during the month was 5°67 inches—a 
quantity much above the average, and which proved to be the 
largest amount for any month during the year. There were 
fifteen dry days. Owing to the winds being so much from the 
east, the barometer readings show a less erratic course than had 
the winds been westerly, the pressure being fairly steady between 
29-50 and 30-00 inches. The only drop was with the storm on 
the 16th, when the pressure sharply fell from 29-96 on the 15th 
to 29:20 on the 16th, after which it rose irregularly for a few 
days, then kept steadily about 29°80 until the end of the month. 
_ For the season the temperature was low. The highest reading 
of the thermometer in shade was 73° on the 6th, and it was only 

five times above 70°. The highest reading for June of the two 
preceding years was 78°. The average maximum was 62° and 
the minimum 49°, against 65° and 49° respectively for June, 1896. 
Vegetation, owing to the ungenial atmospheric conditions, did 
not make much progress during the month. The foliage of most 
