i90 A year's weather. 



From the table we learn that the Truro rainfall for the first four 

 months of this year is less by 3|-inches than the average mean 

 rainfall for forty years, i.e., the land has received this year^ 84,750 

 gallons of rain w^ater less per acre than usual. 



May 9th, 1 89 1. 



I have to record a cold and somewhat dry May month, the 

 rainfall being nearly a quarter of an inch below a forty years' 

 average. As will be seen from the table appended, we are still in 

 the enjoyment of much drier weather than last year. The regis- 

 tration of the rainfall of this May and last shews that we have had 

 less than half the rain this May month than last. The rainfall for 

 the first five months in 1890 and 1891 show a difference of nearly 

 six inches and a quarter. 



40 years' mean. 1890. 1891. 



January 452-ins 5"62-ins 3 40-ins. 



February .. 3-38-ms 1-84-ins 0-22-ins. 



March 2-91 -ins 1-87-ins 3-90-ins. 



April 2-61-ins 401-ins 2-48-ins. 



May 2-45-ins 5 06-ins 2-26-ins. 



Total ... 16-20-ins 18-40-ins 12-26-ins. 



The rainfall at Truro for May was 2'26-inches, which fell on 

 eighteen days. 



Perhaps no month in recent years has been so disappointing 

 as May, 1891 ; and yet, judged from a weather chart, it seems hard 

 to say why. The mean here of the maximum heat for May, is 

 6i"io, we had this year 61 -60 degrees. The mean of the minimum 

 is 44 "94, we had 42-50 degrees, or 2^ degrees colder than usual. 

 Last year our hottest Mayday registered 77 degrees 3 our hottest 

 this year 73 degrees, or 4 degrees colder. Our coldest night in May, 

 1890, was 395 this May, 30 degrees, or 9 degrees colder. 



Even natural observations gave no direct clue to the cause of 

 this disappointment. Oak should be in leaf on May 13th, was in 

 leaf on the 5th. The ash came into leaf on the loth. The horse 

 chestnut should be in flower about May 6th, was, with us, on May 

 8th ; the lilac on the 5th, was in flower on the 6th j the laburnum on 

 the i4thj was in flower on the 9th. The swift and the corncrake 

 were a few days late. 



