1884-1885.] 3^5 



MONTHLY NOTES. 



January was slightly above the average for -warmth. Frosts were short- 

 lived, and never severe ; the prevailing winds easterly and southerly ; a sun- 

 less month, with rainfall and force of wind below the average. 



February. — Frosts were frequent, but of short duration. Rainfall 1-72 

 inch above the 16 years' average, and mean temperature 0"5 degrees below the 

 average of 16 years. A severe equatorial gale on the 21st and morning of the 

 22nd doing a considerable amount of damage. 



March was a cold dry month, with but little spring weather in it, yet a good 

 seed-time. Kainfall and temperature below the average ; prevailing winds N. 

 and N.W. ; aurora on the 6th and 15th. 



April. — There were ten days of spring warmth extending from the 17th to 

 the 26th. At other times cold E. and N. winds prevailed ; mean temperature 

 0-72 deg. below the average ; and rainfall 0*21 in. above the average. Hawthorn 

 bursting into leaf on the 14th, chestnut on the 1 9th, and beech on the 23rd. 

 This was 8 to 10 days later than the previous year. Swallows here on the 19th, 

 landrail heard on the 23rd, and the cuckoo on the 26th. 



May. — Lower temperature prevailed from the 6th to the 10th, with frost at 

 night, injuring the abundant fruit blossom of the cherry and damson. On the 

 24th, there was an increase of temperature which continued during the remaining 

 7 days. The month on the whole was 3-60 degrees below the average, and minus 

 its mean more than any month of the year. Cold, dry, and ungenial. 



June copied some of the ungenial features of May, but with more sunshine. 

 It was r02 degree below the average warmth of the month. When sunshine 

 came, it was dry and scorching, and serious injury was done to the turnip crop. 

 A month of drought, yet cold for June, with the springs considerably lower than 

 is usual at this time of the year. Cuckoo last heard on the 27th. 



July was the only summer month of which 1885 could boast — warm, bright, 

 and beautiful, yet the mean was very little above the average warmth. The 

 gauge of rainfall was again less than the mean, and was distributed by very 

 moderate falls over a period of 13 days. 



August. — Polar currents continued from the 2nd to the loth, almost without 

 intermission, reducing the temperature considerably below the standard ; but 

 the remainder of the month, alternating with the equatorial element, brought 

 more heat. Excepting the August of 1881, this August had the lowest mean 

 temperature of any for at least 17 years. 



