168 
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METEOROLOGICAL NOTES FOR 1872. 
The characteristic of the last year was wetness; and this was very 
strongly marked. Taking the year as a whole, the rainfall exceeded that of 
any other during the 35 years since our observations commenced, except 
1841; and it exceeded the average yearly rainfall by more than 2-10ths. 
Like 1841, the year 1872 was also remarkable for the wetness of all the 
months,—no one among them having been distinctly dry, whilst in August 
alone was wetness at all below the average of the past 23 years; for although 
the quantity of rain in September was fractionally less than the normal 
quantity, this was more than counterbalanced by the great excess of rainy 
days, which were 23, instead of 16, the mean number for the month. This 
last feature belonged to the whole year to a very unusual extent, the number 
of days on which rain fell having been 245, in place of the average 184. 
Fortunately for the crops, although of course they suffered greatly and 
generally, excepting hay, from this lack of fine weather, the great predominance 
of wetness fell on the two first and the last three months of the year. January 
and February, taken together, were the wettest we have ever recorded, the 
rainfall having been nearly double the average, and only five days having been - 
exempt from showers; whilst in the concluding quarter, the quantity of rain was 
4 inches beyond the average, and the total of rainy days exceeded the ordinary 
number by 19, only 15 of the 92 days having been quite dry. This description, 
whose details are drawn from the Truro register, applies pretty accurately to 
the county at large; the usual proportions of the several stations having 
been generally maintained. It may be worth notice that at St. Agnes, 
although the rainfall exceeded that at Truro, the number of days altogether 
dry was greater at the former place by 48; whilst at Newquay, the neighbour- 
ing station on the north coast, rain was measured on 27 days more than 
at St. Agnes, although the quantity was 5 inches less. The proximity of the 
high ground at St. Agnes Beacon, rising directly from the sea, may account, 
partially at least, for both points of difference. The eastern stations present 
even more than their customary record of excess of rainfall, over those in 
the west; that at Bodmin being nearly in the proportion of 14 to 9, and that 
at Altarnun nearly as 17 to 12 beyond their respective averages; at the latter 
place no less than 44 inches of rain fell in four months, the two beginning 
and the two ending the year. At Liskeard, the total fall, 62°41 inches, was 
in more than usual degree less than at Bodmin (71:93), a difference bearing 
especially on the winter months. 
The same excess of rainfall was registered at Guernsey, in the south, 
and in the north of England; but it was not at all equally experienced towards 
the east, or at Greenwich, although the weather throughout the year was un- 
settled, confirming the deduction made from a long series of years that where 
