Meteorological Observations. 7.1 



As the washing by decantation requires some practice, and is not 

 always practicable, the oxalate of lime may be filtered and washed ; 

 then dissolved on the filter with very dilute boiling muriatic acid. 

 The solution obtained, which may be reduced by evaporation if 

 necessary, is then put into the apparatus for the evolution of the 

 carbonic acid, and after it has been neutralized with ammonia, the 

 chromate of potash is added. In order to prevent any evolution of 

 chlorine, a small quantity of oxide of mercury must be added before 

 the sulphuric acid is added to the mixture. — Liebig's Annalen, May 

 1855, vol. xciv. p. 217. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR MAY 1855. 



Chiswick. — May 1. Densely clouded : dry haze : clear. 2. Clear : sharp frost at 

 night. 3. Fine : densely overcast. 4. Cloudy and cold : frosty. 5. Excessively dry 

 air, with bright sun. 6. Fine. 7. Fine : overcast : boisterous at night. 8. Cloudy : 

 clear, with sharp frost at night. 9. Fine : rain at night. 10. Cloudy. 11. Cloudy 

 and fine : thunder-storm in afternoon : clear. 12. Cloudy and cold : very clear : 

 frosty. 13. Overcast : boisterous, with heavy rain at night. 14. Cloudy. 15. 

 Cloudy : rain. 16. Cloudy: clear and frosty at night. 17 — 19. Very fine. 20. 

 Foggy: very fine. 21. Overcast. 22. Cloudy. 23 — 25. Fine. 26. Very fine : 

 hot and dry. 27. Slight haze : cloudy : rain. 28. Rain. 29. Cloudy : showery. 

 30. Cold showers. 31. Rain. 



Mean temperature of the month 48°-88 



Mean temperature of May 1854 50 -07 



Mean temperature of May for the last twenty-nine years ... 53 '72 

 Average amount of rain in May 1'85 inch. 



Boston. — May 1. Cloudy. 2. Fine. 3. Cloudy : rain and snow p.m. 4 — 6. 

 Cloudy. 7. Cloudy : rain a.m. and p.m. 8. Cloudy : rain, hail and snow p.m. 

 9. Cloudy. 10. Cloudy: rain a.m. and p.m. 11. Cloudy: rain p.m. 12. Fine. 

 13. Cloudy: rain P.M. 14. Cloudy. 15. Cloudy: rain a.m. 16,17. Cloudy: 

 rain p.m. 18 — 20. Cloudy. 21. Cloudy : rain a.m. and p.m. 22. Cloudy. 23 — 



28. Fine. 29 — 31. Cloudy : rain a.m. and p.m. 



Sandwick Manse, Orkney. — May 1. Cloudy a.m.: clear, fine p.m. 2. Drizzle a.m. : 

 showers p.m. 3. Hail-showers a.m. and p.m. 4. Cloudy a.m. : clear p.m. 5. 

 Cloudy a.m.: rain p.m. 6. Sleet-showers a.m. and p.m. 7, 8. Sleet-showers a.m. : 

 cloudy P.M. 9. Hail, frost a.m. : clear p.m. 10. Bright a.m. : cloudy p.m. 11. 

 Clear A.M. and p.m. 12,13. Bright a.m. : cloudy p.m. 14. Cloudy a.m. : clear 

 p.m. 15. Showers a.m. : cloudy p.m. 16. Cloudy a.m. : showers p.m. 17. Bright 

 A.M.: drops P.M. 18. Bright a.m.: cloudy p.m. 19. Showers a.m.: cloudy p.m. 

 20. Bright a.m. : clear, fine p.m. 21. Cloudy a.m. and p.m. 22. Small rain a.m. 

 and P.M. 23. Small rain a.m. : clear, fine p.m. 24, 25. Hazy a.m. and p.m. 26. 

 Drops a.m. : cloudy p.m. 27. Hazy a.m. and p.m. 28. Cloudy a.m. and p.m. 



29. Bright a.m. ; clear p.m. 30. Cloudy a.m. and p.m. 31. Clear a.m. and p.m. 

 This mouth has been remarkably cold, the mean temperature being lower than 



that of any May during the twenty-eight years of my observations, — 4°*18 below 

 the average, and the first half of it was only about the average temperature of 

 March. 



Mean temperature of May for twenty-eight previous years . 47°'99 



Mean temperature of this month ■. 43 '81 



Mean temperature of May 1854 48 '39 



Average quantity of rain in May for fourteen previous years 1 68 inch. 



