Transactions. 2U5 



readings exceeded 70 deg., in contrast with 14 days in 1888, and 

 40 days in 1887. The lowest temperature of the year was recorded 

 on 10th February and 4th March, on both of which the minimum 

 reading was 20'5 degs., as compared with 13"3 deg. in February, 

 1888, and 21 deg. in December, 1887. Annual range of tempera- 

 ture, 61 '9 deg. The month of lowest mean temperature was 

 February, with a record of 37 "8 deg., and December came next 

 with 38-7 deg., and January third with 39-9 deg. In 1888 the 

 lowest mean temperature was also in February, and the next lowest 

 in March. There were 55 nights on which the thermometer fell to 

 32 deg. and under, with an aggregate of 193 degrees of frost. This 

 compares favourably mth the two previous years, there having 

 been in 1888, 83 nights of frost, with an aggregate of 293 degrees; 

 and in 1887, 96 nights, with an aggregate of 360 degrees. An 

 unusual circumstance was the absence of frost in April and May, 

 in the former of which there was only one night on which the 

 protected thermometer fell slightly below the freezing point, 

 while in May the lowest recorded temperature was 40 deg., the 

 mean temperature of that month being fully 5 deg. above average. 

 The mean temperature of the year was 48'1 deg., as compared with 

 46-5 deg. in 1888, and 47-2 deg. in 1887, and 46-2 deg. in 1886. 

 This is the first year since I began to take observations that the 

 mean annual temperature of Dumfries ha.s reached, or rather 

 slightly exceeded, the value assigned to it in temperature charts, 

 viz., 48 deg. With a fully average temperature, and a sufficient 

 but not excessive supply of moisture, the year has on the whole 

 been very favourable to vegetation. 



Rainfall. — The heaviest falls of rain within 24 hours occurred 

 on the 6th March and the 6th June, on both of which days 1 "22 in. 

 were recorded. On the former of these days there was a continu- 

 ous and heavy fall of rain during the day, followed by sleet and 

 snow during the night. The excessive fall in June was connected 

 with a severe thunderstorm, Avhich began about 6 r.M., and con- 

 tinued with more or less severity till near midnight. The rainiest 

 mouth of the year was October, with a total of 5-16 in., which fell 

 in 21 days. But August was the month in which the greatest 

 number of rainy days occurred, viz., 25 out of the 31, to the sad 

 interruption of harvest work in most parts of the country. But as 

 if to compensate for this the driest month was September, with a 

 record of only 1-69 in. spread over 11 days^and November, 

 February, and June came next, all of which shewed less than 2 in. 



