BATNKALL AT CLTPTON 7N 1887. 



267 



Eemarks. — TliG year 1887 was the driest year wince 1870 

 the amount of rain having fallen short of the average of 35 

 years by nearly 8^ inchen, or about a fourth part of the 

 whole. Before 1870 dry years were of more I'requent 

 occurrence ; and out of the series of 3B years during which 

 observations have been taken, no less than five have had a 

 rainfall smaller than that of last year. The least annual 

 fall wa.M ill 18(!4, namely, 22-74:6 inches. There has how- 

 ever, been ]io parallel in 36 years to the deficiency of rain 

 which was experienced in the interval from the 3rd of June 

 to the 29th of August in the past year. The total fall in 

 that period of nearly three months was 2-386 inches. The 

 two nearest approaches in former years to this prolonged 

 drought occurred in 1864 and 1869. In 1864 the quantity 

 collected in the same interval was 3-836 inches; in 1869 it 

 was 3-322 inches. 



Specially dry periods of shorter duration were noted in 

 1887 as follows :— Prom Februai-y 3rd to March 13th, 38 

 days with less than four-tenths of an inch of rain ; March 

 26th to April 21st, 26 days with less than three-tenths ; 

 Jun-o 2nd to July J2tli, 40 days with loss than half an inch ; 

 July 2(ith to August 15th, 20 days practically rainless. 

 The longest absolute drought was from June 8th to July 4th 

 — a period of 2(i days unbroken by a shower. 



The driest month in 1887 was February, with barely 

 seven-tenths of an inch of rain. The wettest was September 

 with nearly 3| inches ; but this quantity was only slightly 

 in excess of the average for that month. March and 

 September were the only months in the year which showed 

 no deficiency. 



The groat snowstorm of March 15th, 1887, claims i-ecord 

 here, as being the most remarkable for level depth of snow 

 that has occurred in this part of the country for probably 



