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TRANSACTIONS. 205 
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 with 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 has 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—tThe 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, which began about 6 P.M., and con- 
tinued with more or less severity till near midnight. The rainiest 
month 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. 
