444 Mr James Tait on the Rainfall of 1872. 



made havoc among the buds of currants, and the crop was in 

 some places completely spoiled. April was cold, and the 

 continued north-east winds destroyed the fruit blossom. On 

 the 21st and 22nd there was a great storm of wind and sleet, 

 and on the 23rd and 24th there were great thunder-storms in 

 the neighbourhood of Kelso, a most unusual occurrence so 

 early in the season. It is not uncommon to hear one or two 

 thunder-peals in April ; but a prolonged thunder-storm is 

 very uncommon, and still more rare is it to have two storms 

 on two successive days. Rain and cold continued during the 

 month of May, and heavy snow fell on the 19th, especially 

 in the line of Ruberslaw, the Eildons, and the Blackhill of 

 Earlstoun. Great thunderstorms were experienced on the 

 21st and 23rd, and the month closed with hail showers, and 

 frost at night. June was remarkable for occasional hot days 

 and great thunderstorms, especially about the 18th and 19th. 

 July was unusually wet and cloudy, with some tremendous 

 thunderstorms, which continued almost incessantly night and 

 day in different parts of the country from the 22nd of July 

 till the 2nd. of August. On the 6th of August there was a 

 fall of rain on the Eildons almost unparalleled in the present 

 generation, and there was much damage done in the neigh- 

 bourhood of Melrose by the torrents rushing from the hills. 

 Seen from the neighbourhood of Kelso, a dense bank of cloud 

 seemed to extend from Ruberslaw, entirely covering the 

 Eildons, and extending along the Lammermoors by way of 

 Greenlaw ; the lightning gleaming on the face of the dark 

 cloud, and the roll of the thunder was incessant for some 

 hours. The same locality was visited by another storm of 

 nearly equal severity on the 12th. The harvest was unusually 

 late. Even on the banks of the Tweed there was little grain 

 cut before the 1st of September, and the first week of the 

 month was extremely unpropitious. On the second day of 

 the month it rained incessantly with a north-east wind, and 

 on the third and fourth there were thunderstorms, that on 

 the latter day being accompanied by unusual darkness but 

 not excessive rain. More or less rain fell every day till the 

 12th, and much grain had sprouted owing to the heat and 

 moisture. The third week showed some improvement, 

 and then for the first time was some of the grain secured in 

 the stackyard. On the 20th and 21st there was considerable 

 frost, which was followed by cold rain and much snow in the 



