METEOROLOGY. 



61 



December was introduced by a heavy gale, of very extensive prevalence. 

 The rainfall was considerably below the average at Truro, more so than at 

 other stations. The mean temperature was very near the average in Corn- 

 wall, but sudden changes were frequent. Frost was recorded 7 times at 

 Truro, r9 times at Altarnun. Mr. Glaisher says, for Greenwich, " from 2nd 

 Dec. to loth the temperature was low, and its average deficiency daily was 

 as much as OJ" ; thence to 17th there was an excess over the average of 7|° 

 daily. After this the weather was changeable, but the average deficiency of 

 temperature in the last 14 days of the year was 2|° daily." 



Looking at 1867 as a whole, the extreme dryness of November is almost 

 its only peculiar feature. The total rainfall and number of rainy days varied 

 very slightly from the average, either in Cornwall or the country generally. 

 The effect of the season on the crops throughout England, according to the 

 most reliable reports, was most favourable to oats, next so to barley, and 

 least to wheat, which was below an average. Potatoes were a large crop, but 

 disease was spoken of in many places. Their price was nearly twice as high 

 in the last quarter, as at the end of 1865. The price of wheat — which had 

 risen steadily in the last 2 years — in the four successive quarters of 1867, 

 was 60s. 7d., 63s. lid., 65s. 4d., and 67s. lid. 



As on former occasions, I have thrown into a tabular form the com- 

 parative results necessary, in addition to those already given, to an accurate 

 estimate of the spring and summer of 1867, especially in their bearing on 

 animal and vegetable nature : — 



This table exhibits in a clear light some very instructive facts. April 

 appears as a typical specimen of a dmnf month, the air being nearly satu- 

 rated with moisture, although the rainfall was little above the average ; 

 cloudiness bore a very unusual proportion to clear sky, and wet hours to dry ; 

 and May follows closelyan the wake. But I wish particularly to direct at- 

 tention to the relative moisture of the air in the very fine month of June, 

 when the proportion of sunshine and of dry hours greatly exceeded the 

 average, the rainfall was less than half the usual quantity, the temperature 



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