96 METEOROLOGY. 
end of February, under the influence of the higher temperature, shrubs and 
early fruit trees began to bud; but all kinds of vegetables were scarce. During 
March agricultural operations progressed vigorously; the land was found to be 
unusually free from insects, and at the end of the quarter a very large breadth 
of land was under cultivation ; but vegetation was still backward, and forage 
very scarce. 
April was generally mild and damp. The temperature was rather above 
the average, although the number of rainy days was more than 1-4th greater 
than usual, and the rainfall just twice so. On 5th there was a remarkable 
solar halo, discussed by Dr. Jago in this No. of Journal. 
May was avery fine month, with only half an inch of rain (1-5th the 
average), which fell on 5 days, instead of about 14, the standard; but the air 
was mostly harsh and parching. The wind was in the H. quarter on 17 days. 
The mean temperature at Bodmin was 2:6° in excess; but this was owing to 
the heat of many bright days; the nights being often cold and even frosty, 
Thus the maximum reached 80° both at Truro and Altarnun, the minimum 
falling to 82° and 29° respectively. 
June was also generally ungenial, although the Bodmin mean tempera- 
ture was 2°2° in excess. The beginning of the month was chilly, and also 
much of its close. This was everywhere the character especially of Mid- 
summer day, which was almost wintry. The air was dry; and the rainfall at 
Truro and west of it, was only one-half the average, although the number of 
days more or less wet, was distinctly above it. At Bodmin about the ordinary 
quantity of rain fell; and at Altarnun it was one-third inexcess. Mr. Tripp 
gives a description of the spring months in that district, which will apply, 
with some deductions, to the county generally: ‘“‘From the 10th to 22nd of 
April was a period of heavy and welcome rains, which saved the hay crop in 
this neighbourhood. But the spring months, with this exception, were mostly 
as bitter and unpleasant as ever remembered, and the cold and EK. wind char- 
acteristic of March continued into June, a most disastrous season for all 
garden crops.” In regard to Greenwich, Mr. Glaisher says—‘ The deficiency 
of temperature for the whole quarter amounted to more than 13° daily, from 
the average of 50 years, and there has been no corresponding quarter of ag 
low a temperature here since 1860.” 
Excepting its third week, July was a cold month, and it was very wet, 
the rainfall being twice the average at all the stations, and the number of wet 
days a full third above it. 
August was the only really summer month. Its mean temperature at 
Bodmin was 4:2° in excess. The greatest heat at each of the stations was, at 
Altarnun, 87°; Bodmin, 79°; Truro, 85°; Falmouth, 79°; Helston, 86°; Pen- 
zance, 753°; Scilly, 740. The quantity of rain was little more than one-half 
the standard, and the number of days on which it fell was about one quarter 
less. There were heavy showers locally in connection with thunderstorms, 
which were rather frequent. That on the night of the 14th was general, and 
particularly magnificent. Capt. Liddell mentions that about 10 p.m. 0-60 inch 
of rain fell in 10 minutes, at Bodmin. 
