ON THE INFLUENCE OF FORESTS ON THE KAINFALL. 489 



Carnwath has been one of the stations of the Scottish Meteorological 

 Society since the beginning of 1869, and, through the hberality of Hector F. 

 M'Lean, Esq., Carnwath House, is sujiplied with a full equipment of 

 instruments, all of which have been compared. The observer is Mr. AVilliam 

 Currie, Clerk to Mr. M'Lcan. He was formerly observer at Eallabus, Islay, 

 and is, in the opinion of Mr. Buchan, in every way one of the best observers 

 of the Scottish Meteorological Society. 



Three stations were placed at the disposal of the Committee, and 

 Mr. M'Lean offered most handsomely to cut down the trees at the station 

 which should be selected, at the time and in the quantity which would, in 

 the opinion of the Committee, best suit the objects of the inquiry. 



The three localities were visited by the Subcommittee, who had no 

 difficulty in fixing on one of these as the best. Its situation is shown on 

 a plan, traced from the Trigonometric Survey. [This plan was exhibited at 

 the Meeting.] 



At the point marked I. is placed the anemometer of the station, on the top 

 of a grassy knoll, free to the winds all round. At a distance of 320 yards to 

 the S.S.W., at point marked II., in centre of patch coloured red, is a wooded 

 knoll precisely similar and nearly of the same height. Immediately on west 

 of top of this knoll is a circular patch 50 feet in diameter, quite clear of 

 trees, covered with a fine, close, grassy sward, containing well-grown 

 specimens of Veronica officinalis, V. cliamceclrys, Galium saxatile, FotentiUa, 

 Tormentilla, Ranunculus acris, and a few roots of Lastrca Filix-mas. 



Trees (mixed, but chiefly pines) from 30 to 40 feet high surround this 

 patch on aU sides. The extent of woodland in which it is proposed to place 

 the station is 62| acres ; but there is a much greater extent of woodland in 

 the neighbourhood. 



The Committee propose to erect two sets of instruments — one beside 

 the anemometer at I., the other in the centre of the open space of the 

 wooded knoll at II., each set to be in every respect ahke, and to consist of 

 the following : — 



1 Maximum Thermometer. 



1 Minimum Thermometer. 



1 Dry- and Wet-bulb Hygrometer. 



1 Stevenson's Louvre-boarded Box, for holding the thermometers. 



The instruments to be read twice daily, viz. at 9 a.m. and 9 r.ir., in con- 

 nexion with those at the station of the Scottish Meteorological Society at the 

 point marked III., and always in the same order. 



It is proposed, for one year at least, to compare the observations on the 

 wooded and naked knoUs, and to cut down none of the trees ; and it is also 

 proposed to delay the planting of rain-gauges at I. and II. until a sufficient 

 space has been cleared around II. by cutting, the Committee being of opinion 

 that observations from a gauge planted in the small patch of II. surrounded 

 with trees 30 to 40 feet high, and at no greater distance than 25 feet, would 

 give results worse than useless. 

 ^ The Committee hope, in the course of a few months, to be able to 

 make arrangements for the establishment of the second station at Speyside, 

 where the forests are pure Scotch fir of magnificent growth, for which 

 instruments similar to those procured for Carnwath will be required. To 

 meet this outlay and the payment of observers, the Committee will require 

 a renewal of the grant of £20 from the British Association for 1873-74. 



