396 Meteorological Summary for 1^29. — Ham iie. 



poration; as the North-east winds, except those in May, were 

 mostly humitl. i • u u 



The number of strong gales of wind, or the days on which they 

 have prevailed this year, is as in the following scale : 



The year 1828 was unprecedented in its high annual mean tem- 

 perature, and 1829 was the coldest since the memorable year 1816. 



Januarij was seasonably cold, mostly frosty, and rather dry, with 

 a dark atmosphere and frequent gales of wind. 



February was also dry, calm, remarkably cloudy and humid, in- 

 somuch that the sun, moon and stars were seen only a few days, and 

 was equal to March in its mean temperature. 



March was generally dry, particularly the first fortnight, rather 

 cold, with prevailing winds from the N.E. and E., which kept back 

 the spring considerably. 



April was cold, boisterous, and very wet throughout, which in 

 many shaded places injured the bloom of the fruit trees. 



May was very dry, warm, and a fine spring month, attended with 

 a great evaporation towards the end. 



The first part oi June was also dry and fine, and the maximum 

 temperature of the external air for the year occurred on the 3rd ! 

 The latter part was distinguished by very seasonable showers of 

 rain, and intervals of strong sunshine, which produced astonishing 

 effects in the growth and maturation of the corn and fruits ; but the 

 frequency of rain was inconvenient for the making of hay, conse- 

 quently much of it was spoiled in this and the following month be- 

 fore it could be put in ricks. 



July was very wet and stormy, there being only six days without 

 rain. The month altogether was appalling to the grower, and fur- 

 nished a bad omen for the fate of the corn harvest. 



The first part of August being fine, the wheat harvest was in 

 many places got in tolerably well ; but in places where it was not 

 sufficiently ripe, and where every advantage was not taken of inter- 

 vening fine weather, the greatest difficulties were experienced from 

 the rains and heavy gales of wind, in securing even average crops 

 from most abundant ones. This furnished an instructive lesson to 

 those agriculturists who were careless about the precariousness of 

 the harvest weather, and remunerated the forethought and industry 

 of others. 



September was also wet and stormy, and unusually cold, with the 

 exception of a few days, which afforded good opportunities for 

 getting in the barley, oats, &c. More abundant crops of almost 

 every description of fruit, except wall fruit, had not occurred for 

 many years, notwithstanding much was blown off the trees before it 



was 



