Calendar ofKahirf, 83 



To avoid repetition in describing the lines on the preceding diagram, we 

 must refer to Vol. II. p* 478* The mean temperature in October this year was 

 46" ; and in November, 39'8°. In turning back to p. 94. Vol. II., it will be 

 observed that the temperature in October last year was 4*5°, and in No- 

 vember 4'3°, higher than in the corresponding month this season. The depth 

 of rain in October this year amounted to 2*25 in., and in November to 

 2'5 in., being nearly half an inch less than fell during the same period last 

 season ; and this difference of temperature has been accompanied with cor- 

 responding effects on the progress of vegetation. The last day of October 

 was the coldest : mean temperature of that day 39° ; extreme cold 35° ; 

 wind N. The warmest day in that month was the 1 1th : mean temperature 

 of that day 34'5" ; extreme heat 59° ; wind W. The coldest day in 

 November was the 18th: mean temperature of that day 33*5°; extreme 

 cold 28° ; wind N. The warmest day in that month was on the 3d : mean 

 temperature of that day 48*5° ; extreme heat 52° : wind W. The mercury 

 in the barometer was highest on the 28th of October, being 29*85 in. ; and 

 lowest on the 21st, being 28*72 in. In November the mercury in the baro- 

 meter was highest on the 19th : height 29*78 in. ; and lowest on the 4th, 

 being 28*70 in. The wind is invariably in the east or north-east when the mer- 

 curial column rises highest ; and frequently in the west and south-west when 

 it is most depressed. In October there were only 3 days of brilliant, and 12 

 days of partial, sunshine ; 16 days were cloudy. Rain fell on 9 days, and 

 22 days were fair. In November there were 9 days of brilliant sunshine, 

 and 3 partial sunshine ; 18 were cloudy ; and on 10 of these days rain fell. 

 There were loud gales of wind on the 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, Uth, and 14th of 

 October ; and brisk gales on the 13th and 25th of November. 



Th& rains in the early months of autumn produced a continued evapo- 

 ration, which cooled the earth's surface to that degree, that it prevented wheat 

 from giving a braird in the same • time, under the same temperature m the 

 air, as last year. On the 7th of October the Grampian Hills were covered 

 with a slight fleece of snow, and a few flocks of wild geese were seen arriving 

 from the northern coasts to the Low Carse. Wheat that was sown on the 

 1st appeared above ground on the 18th : mean temperature of that period 

 47*3°. It will be seen at Vol. II. p. 96., that wheat gave a braird in 13 days 

 in October last year, under a mean temperatm'e of 52°. Flocks of fieldfares 

 appeared in the Carse of Gowrie on the 26th. The flowers of the yi''rbutus 

 t/'nedo began to open on the 1 2th, and the plants were in full blow by the 

 28th. The harvest last season " was secured on the highest grounds, which 

 form the north bank of the Carse of Gowrie, by the 22d of September." 

 (Vol. II. p. 96.) It was the 6th day of October this year that the fields 

 were clear on the same grounds, 15 days later. 



At the beginning of November, forest trees exhibited the " sear and yellow 

 leaf," but few had parted from the tree. The frequent loud winds to which 

 they had been exposed throughout the autumn months, had partly strength- 

 ened that part which attaches the leaf to the shoot ; and the low tempera- 

 ture retarded the ripening of the young wood : about a third part fell on the 

 forenoon of the 9th, after a severe hoar frost on the morning of that day ; on 

 the 18th and 19th, a keen frost completed the work of denudation on beech, 

 birch, ash, maple, &c. ; but young oaks, and many varieties of apple and plum 

 trees on standards, still retain about a fourth part of their foliage, an unfa- 

 voura,ble symptom for the crop of fruit or acorns next year. On the 18th 

 georginas, Indian shot, love-apples, &c., were destroyed by a temperature of 

 28°. The Chinese primrose withstood the early shock in the open border, 

 and also the early red Indian chrysanthemum, both of which are now in 

 flower in the open air. Below or at 40° mean temperature, vegetation 

 makes very slow and imperceptible progress. Wheat which was sown this 

 year on the 24th of October, only gave a braird on the 22d of November, a 

 period of 29 davs ; mean temperature of that period 41*2'' : and wheat that 



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