456 METEOROLOGICAL REPORT, 1871, BY THE 



on the 10th and 27th ; at Wallington on the 9th ; at Cresswell 

 on the 9th ; at Whitley on the 1st ; at North Shields on the 1st 

 and 9th; at Sunderland on the 1st, 9th, and 15th. 



May. — 



"When rain comes before wind 

 Halyard sheets and braces mend ; 



But— 

 When wind comes before rain 

 Soon you may set sail again." — Fitzroy. 



Greenwich. — The mean temperature of May was 51*9°, being 

 0*7° below the average of 100 years, lower than in 1870 by l - 5°, 

 but higher than in 1869 by 1-4°. . 



The mean high day temperature of May was lower than the 

 average. The mean low night temperature of May was also 

 lower than the average. 



The daily range of temperature was l - 8° greater than the 

 average. 



The fall of rain was 1'3 inches in defect. 



During the month of May the readings of the barometer, with 

 six exceptions, were above the average. The range of readings 

 was from 30 - 214 inches on the 7th, to 29"636 inches on the 25th, 

 or 0*578 inch only. 



Saughtree, North Tyne.- — Severe frost on the 16th. 



Wark. — On the 16th the mercury in a thermometer, on a stand 

 facing east, about four feet from the ground, and eighteen inches 

 from a wall, fell to 20°. In one facing north, eighteen inches 

 from a wall covered with ivy, it fell to 18°. 



All the potatoes were cut down to the ground. The goose- 

 berries, except those sheltered by leaves, were killed. Many of 

 the bushes lost their leaves. Apple blossom and cherry wholly 

 destroyed. The young leaves of "horse knots" (Plantago lan- 

 eeolata), and coltsfoot (Tussilgo farfara), turned black. 



The trees in a beech wood by river side, at Chipchase, a 

 quarter of a mile in length, turned as red as in autumn and lost 

 their leaves. Yeast in a pantry within the rectory was frozen ; 

 as was milk in an underground pantry. 



