RAINFALL IN DORSET. 83 



period 1848-97 the ratio of the year's rainfall ascertained from 

 41 stations was as 807 to 100. The drought, which came to an 

 end on the 28th September, was aggravated by the slight rainfall 

 of the preceding autumn, a time of year when percolation is usually 

 active ; and the effects were long felt in the falling off of under- 

 ground water-supply and the consequent failure of springs and 

 wells. But the needs of vegetation were satisfied by a heavy snow- 

 fall in February and a wet May, while the harvest was well saved. 

 The snow on the 2ist and 2 2nd of February attained a 

 maximum depth of more than 2ft. in a belt extending across the 

 county from west to east through Broadwindsor, Cattistock, and 

 Bloxworth to Parkstone. It commenced on the afternoon of the 

 2ist, the temperature being above the freezing point, and 

 continued falling about 20 hours. The snow was accompanied 

 by lightning and thunder on the evening of the 2 1 st, though with 

 very little wind, and was wet, dense, and adhesive, preceded by 

 rain on the coast. At Dorchester Water Works i6in. of snow 

 yielded 1*44^1. of water; at Parkstone the product of 21 in. was 

 i'98in., the mean of the two measurements being about iiin. of 

 snow to i in. of water. As the snow upset the routine arrange- 

 ments of several of the observers, the two-days' fall, entered by 

 some on the 2ist by others on the 22nd has been combined in 

 the annexed table, in which is shewn the equivalent depth in 

 inches of water of the snow and rainfall. 



