Characteristics of Good and Bad Seasons. 95 



rainy days. In August, again, there was a full amount of 

 rain, which, however, fell for the most part in heavy showers, 

 and the month was upon the whole favourable for ripening 

 and harvest. Thus, 1854 was characterised by prevailing low 

 rather than high temperature, an abundance of rain at the 

 period of early active growth (doubtless favouring root 

 development), and again before harvest; but otherwise by 

 dryness as well as coolness. It would seem, therefore, that 

 the large produce was due to a sufficiency of moisture within 

 the soil when most wanted, with, at other times, com- 

 paratively dry and temperate atmospheric conditions, 

 resulting in a continuity of unchecked growth, rather than in 

 very active luxuriance at intervals. 



Contrasting with the foregoing the extremely unfavourable 

 season of 1856, it appears that there had been some rough 

 weather in the early part of the winter, but the later and 

 greater part was upon the whole mild. March, April, and 

 especially May, were colder than the average, whilst June, 

 July, and August, though showing average day -temperatures 

 fully as high as usual, were very changeable, and in June and 

 July the nights were cold. In each month from January to 

 July there was considerably more rain than in the corre- 

 sponding months of 1854 in all nearly 6in. more ; whilst in 

 April there was an excess over the average, in May more than 

 double the average, and in August again an excess. 

 Generally, then, the season was very wet, with marked 

 alternations of heat and cold, whilst it was, for the period of 

 the year, the coldest during the time of the greatest excess of 

 rain. Moreover, there were heavy rains, with considerable 

 fluctuations of temperature, about the ripening and harvest 

 period. The very bad result in this season would seem to be 

 due, therefore, to an excess of rain, with, at the same time, 

 great alternations of temperature during the most active 

 periods of growth, entirely preventing continuity of progress ; 

 whilst the unhealthy plant thus produced was subjected to 

 unfavourable maturing conditions. 



