JUNE ii 



Many country rhymes pay great honour to St. Barnabas' Day, 

 the summer solstice under the old calendar. The most quaint and 

 informative runs 



' When St. Barnaby bright smiles night and day, 

 Poor ragged robin blooms free in the hay.' 



Another traditional signpost of the ripening of the grass is the sound 

 of the seeds in the pod of the yellow rattle ; and this is perhaps a 

 better sign than the blooming of the ragged robin, which is often 

 premature. An old weather couplet of the month says truly 



' A leaky May and a warm June 

 Bring on the harvest very soon.' 



A wet June is said to spoil the rest of the year. 



In Germany the St. John's wort, which has a saintly splendour 

 of flower, is associated with St. John's Day, June 24th. 



Heavy thunderstorms, which kill many ground-nesting birds, and 

 towards the end of the month a spell of north wind, are common 

 symptoms of June weather. 



June ist The close season for coarse fish ends in many waters. 



June 24th is Midsummer's Day, the longest day, the sun rising at 

 3.45 a.m. and setting at 8.19 p.m. 



Average temperature of June 1st, 5 7 -4. 



Average rainfall of month, 2 "2 inches. 



June 1st. Sun rises 3.51 a.m. ; sets 8.5 p.m. 



YOUNG WRYNECKS 



