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A comet appeared in July and continued till November 

 (Boyle). 



The winter of 1824-5 had been mild and wet; the 

 ensuing spring dry, but with keen winds and frosty morn- 

 ings, which greatly injured the fine blossoms that appeared 

 on our fruit trees, and the continued and profuse nightly 

 fall of the honey dew was quite unusual. This continued 

 till about the middle of July. We rarely begin cutting 

 our grassbefore July, but in consequence of the heat of 

 June in this year much hay was carried by 20th June. 

 Crops on good ground fair, though in general the chilling 

 season of May had occasioned a deficiency. But all 

 our clover crops and artificial grasses were harvested in 

 the finest order, producing good-sized ricks, but they cut 

 out very light. The heat and drought continued with 

 very partial and slight showers of rain all June and July, 

 nor had we anything like serviceable rain till August 2. 

 In consequence our grass lands were burned up and our 

 fields parched. The heat was unusually distressing all 

 day, and evening brought us little or no relief. July 18 

 and 19 was the acme of our suffering. Thermometer in 

 shade, 82. The young rooks entered our gardens, as in 

 severe frosts, with open bills, panting. Horses dropped 

 on the roads. The leaves of apple and filbert trees 

 withered up. Gooseberries hung shrivelled upon the 

 leafless bushes, and potatoes sold at Bristol at 24$. the 

 sack. Bean crop defective, ripe by August ist. Water 

 scarce. Cows nearly lost their milk; and from July 18 

 to 24 butter could not be made to harden. Early in 

 August rains fell, and continued seasonably until Septem- 

 ber, and by the end of the month the profusion of feed in 

 the pastures was astonishing. October 20. The weather 

 changed, and the hills were sprinkled with snow. 

 November 4. Slight ice, but the weather generally fair 

 and mild till Christmas (Knapp). 

 1826 Wheat, 58^. 8< per qr. (Official Returns). 



