460 METEOROLOGICAL REPORT, 1871, BY THE 



fruit bushes very much, and which appeared to be favourable to 

 the growth and production of aphides. They covered the under- 

 side of the leaves of fruit trees and bushes in myriads. The 

 colours varied with the trees on which the insects fed. The aphis 

 on the peach was a pale colour : the cherry black. The plum 

 a large dark green : the pear and beech yellow. 



Farm and garden crops otherwise promised well and were very 

 luxuriant. 



The minimum temperature recorded was 29° on the 25th ; 

 the maximum 72° on the 2nd. The mean minimum for the 

 month was 41° ; the mean maximum 62-2°. Eain fell on four- 

 teen days. 



Meldon, near Morpeth. — This month commenced with a fine 

 day, but the wind changed to the north on the 2nd, and it con- 

 tinued cold from that date to the 10th, except the 6th, which 

 iwas a fine day. On the 7th there was a strong gale of wind 

 from the N.E., which strewed the ground with green leaves. 

 After the rain on the 14th, which was much wanted, vegetation 

 advanced rapidly to the end of the month. 



There were thunderstorms at intervals on the 18th, from 

 11*50 a.m. to 7.0 p.m., in which time 0*45 inch of rain fell. 



Wylam. — A cold ungenial month, with chill E. winds. A few 

 warm days occurred from the 14th to the 18th, when there was 

 a thunderstorm, and cold weather ensued till very nearly the 

 end of the month. 



Barometer— Mean height at 8 a.m., 29-625; highest, 30-290 

 on the 26th ; lowest, 29-343 on the 18th. 



Thermometer — Mean of maximum 61-10° 



Mean of minimum 44-10° 



Difference 17-00° 



Mean for month ( ™*. + min .) = 52 .60° 

 Mean of sixteen years 56-63° 



Deficiency in 1871 4-03° 



Highest reading, 76° on the 17th ; lowest, 35° on the 5th. 



