Very cold winter (Whistlecraft). 



The frost lasted 115 days (Boyle). 



August i. Very hot (G. White). 



A stormy summer (Brumhani). 



January 31. A very severe frost set in and continued 

 till the middle of March (M. S.J.). 



May 9. A great drought. September i. Great floods 

 (Boyle). 



The coldest March on record. The mean temperature 

 339' (Brumham). 



The winter of 1785-6. Hay, straw and fodder of all 

 kinds were scarcer and dearer than ever known in this 

 kingdom. Severe frosts destroyed the turnips, and cattle 

 of all kinds and sheep suffered dreadfully ; many died, 

 and the rest were in ill plight to fatten early in the sum- 

 mer (Arthur Young). 

 1786 Wheat, 38 j. io</. per qr. (Official Returns). 



Good crop of wheat ( Winter). 



To January yth, frost and snow. To i3th, mild, with 

 much rain. To 2ist, deep snow. To February i ith, mild, 

 with frequent rains. To 2ist, dry, with high winds. To 

 March loth, hard frost. To April i3th, wet, with intervals 

 of frost. To the end of April, dry, mild weather. On May 

 ist and 2nd, thick ice. To loth, heavy rain. To June 

 i4th, fine, warm, dry weather. From July 8th to nth, 

 heavy showers. To October i3th, warm, with frequent 

 showers. To iQth, ice. To 24th, mild, pleasant weather. 

 To November 3rd, frost. To December i6th, rain, with 

 a few detached days of frost. To the end of the year, 

 frost and snow. Rainfall at Selborne, 39*57 in. Great 

 year for turnip fly. Damage in Devonshire alone 

 estimated at ^"100,000 (Gilbert White). 



June and July were moderately fine (Brumham). 



August i. An earthquake felt in the North of England. 

 A great storm occurred this year at Highbeckington, 

 Devon, which removed thirteen elms from the original spot 



