180 CLIMATE OF [PART I. 



fire could be dispensed with throughout the year, 

 but the habit of having a fire every evening, summer 

 and winter, may very easily be acquired. 



The mean temperature of July the coldest month 

 was at Wellington only 48 -7 ; the greatest cold 

 during the day was 38 ; the greatest warmth 57. 

 On the other hand, in January the warmest month 

 the mean temperature was 66 -4; the highest 

 76*5 ; and the lowest 57. The mean temperature 

 of the whole year was at Wellington 58*2, and the 

 mean temperature of the different months was as 

 follows : 



Deg. 



January . . . 66'4 



February . . . 64' 8 



March . . - 62'5 



April . . .63'5 



May . . 51-8 



June 51'3 



Deg. 



July . . . 48-7 



August . . .51-2 



September. . . 53'5 



October . . . 59'2 



November . . . 60 '5 



December . .64*7 



From the foregoing details it will be understood 

 why I do not consider the climate of New Zealand 

 much suited to the vine ; 58 2, it is true, is a mean 

 temperature sufficiently high for a country required 

 for ripening the grape ; but the mean of the three 

 summer months, 65-2, is too low, as a mean sum- 

 mer heat of at least 66 2 is necessary for a wine 

 country. The mean temperature of the winter 

 months was not lower than 50 7 : in fact, the cli- 

 mate is not sufficiently excessive ; the winters are too 

 moderately cold, the summers too moderately warm ; 

 nor must we forget that there were twenty rainy 



