58 



REPORT — 1851. 



1 . The number of days on which the temperature fell below the freezing- 

 point. 



2. The number of days on which rain fell in greater quantities than half 

 an inch in 24 hours. 



3. The amount of rain in inches during each month of the three years. 



4. The number of days on which rain fell. 



5. The mean temperature of each month for each of the four places men- 

 tioned. 



Confessedly imperfect as this table is, we ma}' nevertheless deduce from it 

 some interesting facts. It is imperfect from the construction of the rain- 

 gauges employed, which would give more satisfactory results did they record 

 the duration of showers of rain as they fell on the principle of Osier's rain- 

 gauge. They are imperfect indicators, moreover, of the mean amount of rain 

 for their localities, from the varying height at which they are placed above 

 the ground. I apprehend that to obtain the due amount of rain we should 

 plant several gauges in different parts of a town, and the mean of the quantity 

 received would give a much fairer estimate. Till, however, the number of 

 those who take an interest in the subject of meteorology is greatly increased, 

 we must be satisfied with such imperfect means as we possess for acquiring 

 a knowledge of the atmospheric variations and the laws which regulate them, 

 of even so small a portion of the world as our own country. 



The following are a few particulars deduced from the table under consi- 

 deration : — 



1 . During the course of the year, the number of days on which the freezing- 

 point is reached at Falmouth is about ^ of that at Southampton, at Stone 

 11^. at York If. 



2. With regard to the number of falls of rain beyond ^ an inch in 24 hours, 

 Southampton and Falmouth are about equal ; at Stone and York the number 

 of such days is i of those at the former places. 



3. The entire quantity of rain at Falmouth during the three years is some- 

 what more than y'^th beyond that at Southampton ; at Stone and York 

 somewhat more than half the quantity at Falmouth ; York having received 

 77-6 in., and Stone 683. 



4. The number of days on which rain is stated to have fallen is less at 

 Southampton than at any other place ; being 474 to 577 at Falmouth, 502 at 

 Stone, and 519 at York. This result is consistent with that just mentioned 

 and with the table that follows, and leads us to the conclusion that the rain 

 falls in larger quantities at Southampton than at any of those places with 

 which I am comparing it. 



The days and amounts of falls of rain exceeding one inch in 24 hours 

 during the time through which these observations have extended, are as 

 follow : — 



