AUTOGEAPHIC PRINTING. 133 



contained in the present number, is £3 12s., or without the rolling press, 

 for which an ordinaiy copying press may be substituted, £2 2s. The 

 gelatine plates, when used, will be exchanged for new ones by the 

 patentee, at a very low price. Each plate -wall yield from 150 to 200 

 perfect copies, according to the style of drawing. VvTien larger numbers 

 are required, the best plan is to take an impression, while the plate is at 

 its best, with transfer ink on transfer paper ; if this be sent to a 

 lithogra]3her, more than 5,000 prints can be obtained from each of such 

 impressions, thus multiplying, almost indefinitely, the number of exact 

 facsimiles wliich can be produced. There is a great advantage in being 

 able to transfer to stone, as any number of sketches can be combined 

 together, or with letter-press printing. The latter is effected by taking 

 an impression from the type with transfer ink, which can then be placed 

 upon the stone with the di'awing. 



The autograpliic process is superior to htliogi-aphy in the dehcacy of 

 its results. The only care required in making drawings for this purpose 

 is to keep the hues as fine as possible, and to use only open shading. It 

 is especially appUcable to cases where only a hmited number of copies is 

 required, as for circulars, examination papers, music, &c., which can be 

 printed at home, but, above all, for securing a record of any original 

 microscopical or other observation ; the drawing can be made without 

 any elaborate preparation, and the absolute fidelity of the copies 

 ensured. W. B. G. 



METEOEOLOGY OF THE MIDLANDS. 



THE WEATHER OF MARCH, 1878. 



BY W. J. HAEEISON, F.G.S. 



Want of space compels the compression of the monthly meteorological 

 article, so that, instead of printing the remarks from each station in full, 

 we must be content with a general summary. Notwithstanding this, we 

 trust that every observer will continue to favour us with as many details 

 as possible, especially of any remarkable occurrences, and of those facts 

 in relation to animal and vegetable life which impari to meteorology much 

 meaning and interest. We have quoted the references by our observers 

 to the now famous " Eurydice squall" of the 24th of March in a special note. 

 March opened with chamiing and genial weather, " Coming in like 

 a lamb," but it left us with a very ill grace, " Going out like a hon," 

 thus literally reversing the old proverb. Temperature rose to 61° at 

 Sedgley, on the 7th ; and to 60° at Belvoir Castle (7th,) Worksop (1st,) 

 and Dudley (1st.) The nights were veiy cold from the 22nd to the end 

 of the montli, the Cheltenham return of 12-2° (and on the grass 8-5") 

 on the night of the 25th, being very remarkable. Rainfall was decidedly 

 below the average, and in most places the heavy land was so hard and 

 dry that sowing was rendered impossible. Frequent falls of snow were 

 experienced in the last week, those of the 27th and 28th covering the 

 ground to a depth of 4in. 'or 5in. At Much Wenlock buttercups were 

 in blossom on the 3rd, and the Wood Anemone on the 6th ; Coltsfoot, 

 Daffodil, and Palm, near Hereford, on the 7th. The Chiffchaff was 

 heard at Kibworth on the 21st, and the small Bat seen flying near 

 Stroud on the evening of the 3rd. The remarkable squall of the 24th is 

 noticed separately. 



