THE CLliMATE OF IRELAND. 



45 



concurrently with the state of the weather in each of the districts ; and com- 

 parisons of the latter with average conditions, founded upon many years' 

 observation. This is an application of the science which might, with advan- 

 tage, lend itself to the same purposes m Ireland, where prognostication, 

 cannot be practised as satisfactorily as might be wished, because of our 

 geographical situation. Quarterly Reports of rainfall are issued, and com- 

 parisons with the averages drawn, for north and south of Ireland, by the 

 Meteorological Office ; but these are much too general to serve any practical, 

 ends — ^the districts even are larger than districts in England. If the best 

 possible averages were made out for districts in Ireland, defined by their 

 presenting fairly distinct meteorological characteristics, and reports of cur- 

 rent observations made from week to week in spring and summer, to com- 

 pare with averages, and connect with crop conditions and agricultural, 

 operations, the results would be highly useful — if only in remedying the 

 tendency to procrastination in spring preparations and sowing ; a sounder 

 basis of harvest anticipations than at present exists, would be afforded ; 

 method and exactitude would be induced ; and habits of observ^ation be- 

 gotten, which could not fail in many respects to prove beneficial to the 

 country, especially to the farming community. 



Enniskerry, Co.Wicklow, with view of Sugar Loaf Mountain, 



