BY THE REV. R. F. WHEELER, M.A. 399 



usually from 6° to 7*^ too loAv. The night temperatures were 

 usually about their average value. 



The mean temperature of the month was 50-5°, being 2-1° 

 lower than the average of 98 years, and lower than the corres- 

 ponding period in 1868 by 6-8°, but higher than in 1866, when 

 60-1° was recorded. 



The daily range of temperature was 3-4° less than the average. 

 It is very seldom that the daily range in May is so small as it 

 was in 1869. 



The fall of rain was 1'2 inches in excess. 



On the 1st of May a steady fall of the barometer commenced 

 and lasted till the 6th, the minimum recorded being 29"02 inches, 

 but on the same day an equally steady rise took place and at- 

 tained its maximum (30"06 inches) on the 13th. Decreasing 

 readings were again recorded between the 14th and 19th, and 

 from this time to the end of the month the readings were above 

 and below the average several times. 



North Sunderland. — Very cold ungenial month. Potatoes in 

 some gardens to north of village damaged by frost on the 29th. 



Wallington. — Owing to the prevalence of N. and N.E. winds, 

 and severe frosts on five nights, the fruit which was set upon 

 the wail trees was much injured. More than half fell off. The 

 earlier blossoms of the apple trees were entirely destroyed. On 

 other trees the fruit set amounted to about one-third of an aver- 

 age crop. The coldest days were the 1st, 5th, 9th, 14th, and 

 29th. The mean night temperature was 32-7°. The vegetation 

 was fully three weeks later than in 1868. 



Whitfield. — The thermometer was at and below freezing point 

 on twelve days in May. The lowest temperature recorded was 

 24° on the 6th. On May 1st the thermometer stood at 56°. 



Bywell. — Owing to the prevalence of easterly winds vegetation 

 made but little progress this month. Farmers were well forward 

 with turnip sowing. The frost on the night of the 29th hurt the 

 fruit trees, and damaged the early potatoes. 



