212 Weather and Other Notes. 



a cold, piercing wind from North and North-East, when 

 pumps, waterpipes, etc., suffered to a large extent. I think 

 that a lower temperature has been experienced and the frost 

 not so hard and penetrating. In this instance the wind 

 seemed to drive the cold air into matter. The Nith and 

 Cluden were frozen over in a number of places, and curling 

 was in full swing all over the county on several days. The 

 2nd (Candlemas day) was " fair and clear," which brought to 

 mind the old proverb — " If Candlemas day be fair and clear, 

 there will be two winters in that year." On the 5th there 

 was a trace of snow, with a slight thaw. From this date 

 onwards till the 25th there was very mild weather. On a 

 number of days the birds were singing all round, and the 

 fields had a green. Spring appearance. The last four days 

 were rather squally and wet, with a mean maximum tem- 

 perature of 42 degrees and wind from the South-West. The 

 hazel came into bloom on the 13th, ig days later than 191 1. 

 Heard the Song Thrush on the i6th, 21 days later than 191 1. 

 Heard the Water Ousel singing cheerily on the i6th ; I often 

 hear its cheery song. Highest maximum temperature, 54 

 deg. on the 28th ; lowest, 33 deg. on the 5th ; highest mini- 

 mum, 46 deg. on the 22nd and 28th; lowest, 11 deg. on the 

 3rd; lowest on grass, 11 deg. on the 3rd and 4th. Tempera- 

 ture in the screen, at or below 32 deg. on 10 days ; on the 

 grass on 15 days. Range of barometer between 29.1 and 

 30 inches. 



March. 



This was, indeed, a month of Spring. The prevailing 

 wind was from the South- West and North- West. There was 

 a little from the North-East and South-East for a few days ; 

 but an entire absence of the cold, biting, barren East wind we 

 so often have in March. Rain fell on nearly every day, less or 

 more, and there was a little above the average for the month. 

 Consequently there was no March dust, which is said to be 

 " worth a guinea a peck " to the farmer. Yet although there 

 was a good deal of rain, there were no floods of any conse- 

 quence in our local rivers. Fields put on a fresh, green 

 appearance, and by the end of the month (where winter 



