204 



THE CLIMATE OF PKIXCE GEOEGE S COUNTY 



The Weather at Nottingham. 



The following records are credited to jSTottiugkam, although there 

 is nothing in the published record to show just where it was made, 

 except that it was made "in Maryland." The observer, Dr. Richard 

 Brooke, was born near ]^ottingham. Prince George's County, on the 

 old family estate known as "Brookfield," where he lived and died 

 and where it is very probable these records were made. Dr. Brooke 

 seems to have been a prominent, active man in his day, being a prac- 

 ticing physician and taking an active part in political matters. The 

 record was published in the Philosophical Transactions of London 

 for 1Y59, that of the first year (September 1, 1753, to August 31, 

 1Y54) being published in full and that for subsequent years only the 

 highest and lowest temperatures in each month together with the 

 general character of the w^eather of the month, and occasional remarks 

 about unusual weather conditions or prevalent diseases. We have 

 omitted all notes relative to epidemics, diseases, etc., and have given 

 verbatim et literatim those relative to the weather. It is unfortunate 

 that nothing is known as to the character of the instruments used, 

 the manner of exposing same or the hours at which the readings 

 were made, but as this is probably the first record of instrumental 

 observations of the air temperature in Maryland, its historical if 

 not its scientific value would seem to justify its publication in the 

 climatology of the county. The temperature readings are no doubt 

 observed readings and were probably made about T a. m and 2 p. m. 

 daily, these being the hours, approximately, of the lowest and highest 

 temperature during the day. 



table XX. 



Extreme Temperatures at NottiN'Gham. 



