Effects of Winter 1881-82. 391 



The temperatures were never extremely low, but cokl, parching 

 winds on the 1st, 5th, 8th, 15tli, 21st, "JSril, and 26th retarded 

 vegetation, and night frosts nipped many of" the tender plants 

 prematurely advanced in growth by the fine previous weather. 

 The highest temperature during the month was on the 19th, 58°; 

 lowest on the 12th, 44°, niiu. 28°. That night did great 

 damage, vegetation being so advanced. The wind blew N.E. to 

 N.W. on the dates previously mentioned, and the rainfall was 4*G3 

 inches. With no remarkable summer temperature to record, tlic 

 weather as a whole seemed suitable for the advance of the cereals 

 and green crops, which are excellent over the Merse, — indeed, 

 finer crops have never been seen. Jul}' hail three warm days, 1st, 

 2nd, and 5th, with temperature 71°, 74°, and 76°. August 10th 

 was our warmest day of the season, temperature 81° ; 11th, 79° ; and 

 12th, 71°. Since that time we have had much unsettled Aveather, 

 the crops being secured in a very different state than was the cas(^ 

 last year, the quality of the grain being excellent. The forest trees 

 still bear traces of the low temperature to which they were exposed 

 in 1879, 1880, and 1881, especially the Oaks in low situations. 

 When not killed outright, 20 feet and more of the top seems entirely 

 destroyed, giving a shabby appearance to the rest of the tree. 

 Laburnums, Hollies, and Ashes have suffered most. The great gale 

 of 14th October 1881 has uprooted many of our finest trees, — a 

 beautiful avenue of aged Oaks, forming a most picturesque glade, at 

 Whitehall being completely wrecked. The Spruces and Silver Firs 

 have, however, with the present fine season, lost much of their 

 blasted appearance, which was so evident on their weather side for 

 several years past, and we may now hope that there may be a 

 succession of more genial seasons. 



TRAXS. EOT. SOC. VOL. XIV. 



