108 Transactions. 



to the 28th, with the exception of one day, the 11th. From the 

 12th onward to the 24th the Nith was in high flood. He had 

 marked the 16th November as the day on which the severest storm 

 of the year occurred. The months of lowest mean pressure were 

 ]\Iarch, July, and November, when the mean ranged from 29 '601 

 in. in March to 29-722 in. in July. 



Hygrometer. — The mean reading of the dry bulb thermometer 

 for the year was 46°; tie mean reading of the wet, 43"6°; and the 

 temperature of the dew point, 40'8° \ relative humidity, 82 (satura- 

 tion being equal to a hundred). 



Temperature. — The highest temperature of the year was recorded 

 on 26th June, when the maximum reading of the thermometer was 

 83-6°, as compared with 87° on 25th June, 1887 ; the lowest, on 

 12th February, when the minimum reading was 13-3, giving an 

 annual range of 70 '3. The month of lowest temperature was 

 February, with a mean of 36"4°; and March stood next, with a 

 mean of 374°; while January, which is generally and justly 

 accounted the coldest month of the year, had a mean of 39°. The 

 temperature of January was 1 ° above average ; that of February 

 and March nearly 4° below it. There was frost on 83 nights 

 during the year, with an aggregate of 293°. In 1887 frost occurred 

 on 96 days, with an aggregate of 360 degs. The mean tempera- 

 ture for the year Avas 46'5°, as compared with 47'2° in 1887 and 

 46'2° in 1886. The estimated niean annual temperature of the 

 south-west of Scotland is 48°, so that the last three years have been 

 under average. In 1888 there were only fourteen days on which 

 a maximum of 70° and above was reached ; and the months in 

 which the sun is strongest, and the greatest heat is usually experi- 

 enced, were remarkably deficient both in sunshine and warmth. 

 The mean temperature of June was more than two degrees below 

 average, and that of July 4|- degrees. In both months, but particu- 

 larly in the latter, there was a prevalence of northerly and easterly 

 winds, with cloudy skies and frequent and heavy rainfalls, which 

 greatly retarded the progress of vegetation, and contributed to 

 make the harvest very late. August was scarcely more favourable, 

 the mean temperature having been 2^° below average, and the 

 number of days on which rain fell, 22. But these months were 

 followed by an exceptionally dry, though cold, September and 

 October, which permitted the harvest, though very late, to be 

 gathered in for the most part in good condition. The temperature 

 of November was about 3° above average, and that of December 



