372 Report of the Meteorological Sub- Committee for 1891. 



March. 



This was a cold and rather wet month, and towards the end 

 vegetation was considered to he at least 16 days behindhand. 

 The great snowstorm of the 9th and 10th will long be remem- 

 bered, covering as it did the country rouud here to the depth of 

 10 in., and to unprecedented depths in the west. The rainfall 

 at Kew was slightly below the average of the past 30 years. 



April. 



A very cold dreary month, with very small rainfall and a great 

 prevalence of east and north-east winds. AtBeddington the low 

 daily maxima were remarkable, thfere being only 3 days -with a 

 maximum of over 60-0°. No rain, or very little indeed, fell in 

 the district after the 12th. The almond was in flower on the 

 17th, about 3 weeks or a month late ; the yellow butterfly was 

 not seen till the last week, nor the cuckoo heard before the 28th ; 

 and even at the close of the month hardly any leaves except of 

 gooseberry and currant bushes were out. 



May. 



The first 14 days were spring-like, with no ground frosts and 

 some refreshing showers ; but after this came a change, and 

 snow fell at Kew on the 16th and 17th, and there was a very 

 severe hailstorm at Beddington on the 24th. The rainfall at 

 Kew was -65 in. above the May average, and at Wallington 

 •69 in. above the May average for 1886 to 1890. At Kew there 

 were during the mouth 162 hours of bright sunshine, which was 

 5 per cent, below the average of the past 14 years. There seemed 

 to be no insect-blight in the Keston district. 



June. 



A comparatively warm month, and the dryest June since 

 1887. After the 16th, with the exception of the 23rd, the 

 maximum thermometer in the shade was well above 70'0°. 

 Vegetation, which was backward in the early part of the month, 

 recovered rapidly towards the close. The rainfall at Wallington 

 was slightly below the June average of the 5 years 1886-90. 

 Sunshine was fairly plentiful, and was so hot on the 28th at 

 Beddington as to raise the black bulb in vacuo to 141*0°. 



July, 



A cold, wet, sunless month, vei'y similar to July, 1890. The 

 hay crop was got in in fair condition, but was about one month 

 late, and strawberries lasted throughout the month, and were a 

 heavy crop. With respect to mean temperature, it was about 



