328 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
While favourable for the growth of grass and the filling up of 
cereals, the unsettled weather of this month was against the 
ripening and harvesting of the grain. Harvesting operations were 
accordingly later than usual, and were not begun in the Glasgow 
district until the middle of the month. 
September.—The opening days were dull and wet, but, begin- 
ning on the 4th, fine warm weather prevailed for a week. On the 
7th the thermometer in the shade rose to 78°, the highest recorded 
during the year. Thereafter until the 20th, though several days 
were fine and bright, the weather was somewhat changeable. 
The closing days were rainy and disagreeable. With the absence 
of frosts, the temperature was higher than in the previous Septem- 
ber. The average day temperature was 63°, and the average night 
48°, against 58° and 44° in 1897. There were 15 dry days, and rain 
fell to the depth of 3°99 inches, the amount being slightly less 
than in the same month of the preceding year. Owing to the 
amount of rainfall and the comparatively high temperature, many 
shrubs continued to make growth of a character unfitted to with- 
stand satisfactorily the frosts of winter. The changeable atmos- 
pheric conditions and the frequency of fogs in the mornings 
caused serious trouble to farmers in securing grain crops. On 
exposed lands, by taking advantage of the fine spells in the 
weather, the crops were harvested in good condition. In 
low-lying and sheltered places unfavourable conditions were 
experienced. 
October.—The first half of the month was dry and mild. On 
the 17th gales with heavy rains were experienced, causing the 
Kelvin to overflow its banks, and submerging the lower walks in 
Kelvingrove Park. From the 18th till the close of the month the 
weather was dull and showery, with occasional gales. The 
barometer was over 30 inches during the first week, and 
steadily fell to 29 on the 16th; thereafter it was very irregular, 
falling to 28°80 at the end of the month. The total rainfall was 
3°97 inches, and there were 20 dry days. The average maximum 
and minimum temperatures were 54° and 46°, the former 1° and the 
latter 7° higher than in October, 1897. The high minimum is 
accounted for by the absence of frost. In fact, on only two 
occasions was the minimum thermometer below 40°, an unusual 
occurrence for October. 

