56 



METEOROLOGICAL EEPOET, 1872, BY THE 



North Sunderland. — An open month but very dull, wet, and 

 stormy. Soil completely saturated, and farm work at a standstill. 



Rothbury. — The thermometer was lowest on the 5th, 12th, 

 and 13th. Highest on the 26th. 



"Wallington. — On twenty-three days rain fell this month to 

 the amount of 6*10 inches, and in excess of any of the previous 

 months of the year. The heaviest fall was on the 8th, from 8 p.m 

 to 9 a.m., when 1*23 inches fell, which caused a rapid overflow 

 of the becks and streams, and wrought destruction in many 

 places in the neighbourhood. 



During the year thunderstorms have occurred on twenty -nine 

 days, accompanied by lightning on eighteen days, which were 

 destructive to both life and property. 



From the 23rd to the 31st the temperature was high, and the 

 year went out fresh, calm, and spring-like. 



Whitley. — Yery heavy gales visited the neighbourhood on the 

 17th and 18th. Brig " Consul" wrecked at Tynemouth on the 

 18th, and several wrecks occurred at Amble, between thirty and 

 forty lives being lost there. 



Dinsdale, near Darlington.- — During 1872 the rainfall has been 

 excessive. The take of salmon by the net fishermen was better 

 than usual, and far fewer bull trout were seen than ordinarily. 

 On the 26th of August there was a very heavy thunderstorm, 

 whieh damaged several trees, and set fire to some hay. The 

 rainfall was very great, and did much damage to the roads, fields, 

 and gardens. 



The crop of wall fruit was an entire failure, but there was a 

 tolerable supply of pears, apples, and gooseberries. Potatoes 

 were quite a failure. The year finished with high winds and 

 rain. 



NOTES ON THE RAINFALL OF 1872. 



For many years to come 1872 will be remembered as the wet- 

 test year on record. The rainfall over the whole of the British 

 Isles, according to Mr. Symons' elaborate returns and tables, 

 b^"g 32 per cent, in excess of the average. At several places 



