( 344 ) 



Coldest January for thirty years, except January, 1869. 



Rainfall at Ryehill, Warminster, 37*32 in. on 175 days 

 (S.Jeffy,). 



1881 The year 1881 will long be remembered in conse- 

 quence of the great and disastrous snowstorm on the i8th 

 and 1 9th of January. The month began with mild 

 weather. Sharp frost 7th, which continued till 27th, then 

 a thaw. 1 7th. Rough easterly wind, which rose to a gale 

 in the night, and about 7 a.m. on the i8th it began to 

 snow, which continued the whole day, drifting frightfully. 

 It was so cold and the wind so rough one could not look 

 up against it. There was a cessation about midnight for 

 two or three hours, after which it came on thicker than 

 before, and did not cease the whole of i9th, but the cold 

 was not so intense as the day previous. No man living 

 remembers two days of such weather in succession. 

 Roads blocked, and all business at a standstill. Great 

 loss of life, both man and beasts. February. Cold storms 

 and low temperature. March. A cold month, some rain 

 before middle, then favourable for spring tillage. April, 

 cold and dry ; vegetation backward. A few fine mild 

 days about the middle. May, after nth (when there was 

 a very white frost), beautiful warm sunny weather, few 

 showers at the latter end. June set in fine and hot. 

 After 5th, wet, cold storms; sharp frost 9th, which cut 

 down potatoes in the damp valleys. A comet. Hay, a 

 small crop, and very indifferently made. July, hot and 

 scorching weather till 2oth. Meadow hay a good crop, 

 harvested extremely well. i5th was one of the hottest 

 days on record. 28th. Very white frost, which cut down 

 French beans and potatoes. August. Tolerably fine the 

 first week ; then wet wheat harvest. A little put together 

 fairly well in the early districts, but generally the wheat 

 was sprouted and housed in poor condition. September 

 was a fine harvest month, and a heavy crop of barley 

 secured in fair condition, but stained. A fine autumn 



