198 



RAINFALL IN DORSET. 



In the following statement the ratios are based on the adopted 

 annual rainfall of the several stations and the factor for September 

 (940) given in Table III. : 



In the last three columns of Table III. the monthly averages and 

 ratios are given for the 41 years ending 1896. The very unusual 

 distribution of rain this year has considerably modified the 

 monthly values derived from the 40 years 1856-95. The ratio 

 for September is largely raised, and December comes out wetter 

 than January. When projected graphically the curve of monthly 

 rainfall is more even, and, by incorporating the latest returns, an 

 uninterrupted increase of rain is shown from May to October and 

 diminution from October to May. 



The normal monthly rainfall at any place may be found by 

 multiplying the annual fall by factors representing the ratio of the 

 monthly to the annual fall taken as unity. The adopted annual 

 rainfall 1848-92, and the factors in Table III., deduced from the 



