Padua Rainfall Curve. -The rainfall curve at Padua is 

 shown by dotted line, and has been constructed from the 

 figures given by Sir Alexander Binnie in his paper on 

 "Average rainfall " before referred to. Taken in conjunc- 

 tion with the British curve, it is useful to show the character 

 of the weather on the Continent of Europe. The curve 

 ends in 1821 after a rapid decline for nine years. It is 

 unfortunate that information is not forthcoming to show 

 how much longer this drought lasted, as history shows that 

 very great heat and drought prevailed in Europe for at 

 least three years more. The record at Padua is considered 

 to be one of the longest in the world, and it is understood 

 to be continuous up to the present time ; it would, there- 

 fore, be very desirable to obtain the necessary particulars 

 to enable the curve to be completed. 



To show the character of the drought in the period 

 above mentioned from 1813 to 1824, and in the series at 

 171 year intervals from it, the following extracts from 

 "Historical Events" will be interesting: — 



IMS "Great drought in Germany. All \ c^i'lut imi paivhod up 

 and even the rivers dried up.'' 



1>_''_! -'Intense heal in ftalv and Kui'op- a<v<>mp-inied l»y hurri- 

 canes and earthquakes." 



1303, 1304, 1305 "Protracted drought in Europe, insomuch that 

 the largest rivers of Europe, the Rhine, the Seine, the Po, 

 and the Tiber, all shrunk to the tiniest streamlets." 



1132 "In Europe the earth was so parched with intense solar 

 heat that groat fissures were made in it. for miles." 



1135 "Great drought in France and England." 



1139 "Similar conditions to tlu.se in 1132, the heal being so 

 intense that great fissures extended \\,y miles in the earth, 

 especially in Italy. 

 968 "Severe famine in Germany." 

 627 "The water supply of France, Germany and Italy entirely 



