57 
a half above Kingston, from 1853 to 1873, both inclusive, by 
Mr Joun Tayrtor, M. Inst. C.E., published in the Appendix to 
the sixth Report of the Commissioners for preventing the 
Pollution of Rivers, and there is no flood of any serious magni- 
tude during the summer months approaching 10 times the 
normal dry weather flow of the river. The months being taken 
to correspond with those adopted by the French Hydrologists, 
i.e., from 1st May to end of October, except in three instances, 
viz.: from October 20th to 22nd, 1853; from October, 23rd to 
26th, 1857; from Sept. 26th to October 1st, 1860; and these 
bordered on the winter season. The record does not, unfor- 
tunately, reach the year 1875, in July of which year there were 
heavy floods in many districts described by Mr G. J. Symons in 
the Minutes of Proceedings of the Inst. of Civil Enginoers for 
1876. They would not appear to have raised materially the 
water level at Thames Ditton, for in 1872 the rainfall for May, 
June, and July being 10.78 inches, (at the Thames Head gauge) 
hardly trebled the normal dry weather flow there, as shown by 
Mr Taytor’s gaugings, and in 1875 the rainfall for the before 
mentioned three summer months was but little more than in 
1872, being 11.44 as against 10.78 inches. 
In the streams flowing from the Cotteswolds above the Mid- 
ford sands it may be said there is no flooding at any time. 
Taking the French division of summer and winter months 
enunciated by Mr Breteranp it will be noted that, according to 
the Rainfall Table No. 1, the average summer rain at Further 
Barton (two miles from Thames Head). between 1845 and 1859 
(14 years) was 16.99 inches; the winter rain, 13.33 inches. 
Again, according to the Table No. 2, the average summer rain at 
Thames Head between 1859 and 1886 (27 years) was 16.30 inches; 
the average winter rain 14.82. Mean result being—Summer 
rain 16.645 inches; winter rain 14.075 inches. Total 30.720 
inches. 
In the Stroud vale, at Brimscombe Port, the average of 25 
years, between 1861 and 1886, gives the summer rain 15.98 
inches; the winter rain 14.95 inches. Annual average 30.93 
inches. 
