148 Weather and Other Notes. 



Ox-Eye Daisy came into bloom on the ist, Wild Rose on 

 the 8th. 



July. 



This was a fine, dry, warm summer month, with variable 

 wind. There was a small rainfall, and by the end of the 

 month the grass on the knowes and light land was getting 

 burned, and in many localities water for domestic purposes 

 was getting short. Ryegrass and meadow crops were secured 

 in fine condition with a minimum of labour. Corn that was 

 sown on the 7th of April was ragging on the 5 th. Cutting 

 meadow hay began on the 5th. The 15th of this month is 

 generally known as St. Swithen's Day. The well-known 

 tradition — " That if it rain on that particular day it will rain 

 on the 40 succeeding days ; and should there be no rain on the 

 15th 40 dry days will follow " — I need hardly add, has been 

 proved to be without foundation. 



The temperature of the month was about normal. 

 Highest maximum, 85 deg. , on the 29th. Lowest maximum, 

 59 deg., on the 21st. Highest minimum, 57 deg., on several 

 days. Lowest minimum, 41 deg., on the 23rd. No frost. 

 Range of barometer between 30.4 and 29.9 inches. This was 

 the only day during the month that the barometer was below 

 30 inches. 



Hare Bell came into bloom on the 9th. Meadow Brown 

 Butterfly first seen on the 7th. 



August. 

 Fine dry summer weather continued throughout the 

 month. Only 1.19 inches of rain fell, and more than the half 

 of this amount, .57 in., fell on the 21st; this was not nearly 

 sufficient for the land and crops. It was simply a surface 

 watering ; it revived the turnips and grass a little, but was 

 too late for the corn. On all light soils the grass was quite 

 withered up. On heavier land it was dry and sapless. Yet 

 stock did very well on the dry grass, especially where they 

 had plenty of water. The water supply in many districts was 

 now getting very low. The wind was variable till the 19th, 

 mostly from an easterly direction. This was followed by 

 wind principally from the W. and S.W. Harvesting began 



