48 
was that to the west of the central valley, The rainfall at Bucking- 
ham-place, Cambridge-road, and Goldstone-bottom, was almost 
exactly the same. Probably the fall all over the plain between 
Brighton and Shoreham varied but little. The rainfall at Kemp Town 
was greater than in the western district, but was still lower than in 
other parts of the town. As the result of 21 years observations it 
appeared that the most rainy month was October, which had a total of 
. 8.83 inches ; and the Jeast rainy months April and February, in which 
the totals were respectively 1.43 and 1.44 inches. The greatest fall of 
rain recorded at Brighton was during the great storm, better known as 
the Pool Valley Flood, on July 17th, 1850, when 1.81 inches fell in an 
hour, from 6.50 to 7.50. In October, 1865, the great amount of 9.59 
inches was measured at Lewes-road, Brighton, and at Uckfield the 
amount was 11.23 inches, at Worthing 10.60 inches, and at Dale Park, 
near Arundel, 12.23 inches! The mechanical force required for a fall 
_ of rain to the depth of an inch was very great, when it was considered 
that with that fall 101 tons, or 22,623 gallons of water were deposited 
on every acre. It was not at all remarkable, with such a quantity of 
water, that sewers became choked up, and low districts flooded, 
especially if the rain fell in a short period, as on June 14th, 1871, 
when a tenth of an inch fell in 4 minute, which was at the rate of six 
inches an hour, 
Many proverbs and prognostications of rain exist, Only one 
proverb peculiar to the county had been found :— 
‘* When Wolsonbury has a cap, 
Hurstpierpoint will have a drap.” 
Wolsonbury Hill was a summit in the Downs near Clayton, and when 
it was enveloped in clouds rain might be expected to fall at Hurst- 
pierpoint. When the Isle of Wight could be seen from the lower part 
of Brighton it was considered a sign of rain,—unusual visibility of 
distant objects being always a sign of wet, as a proverb said,— 
‘The farther the sight, the nearer the rain.” 
Another proverb, ‘‘ February fill ditch,” did not apply, as this month 
had, in Sussex, the smallest rainfall of any month in the year. In 
conclusion, it might be mentioned that this was the first time that any 
comparison of the rainfall in various parts of Sussex had been made, 
as the observations had only recently been collected. He was par- 
