1916.] THE SUNSHINE OF GUERNSEY. 297 



but lower than July, hence the question is not satisfactorily 

 answered, as July should show the beginning of the decline 

 of the sunshine of the year. June does show, by every 

 arrangement, a position lower than its theoretical one. 



By ignoring the calendar altogether and dividing the 

 year into eleven months with June consisting of 15 days on 

 each side of the longest day, we bring the disorder into 

 correct relation with the facts, but it is no longer June. 



The year as a whole is below the average. 



The early half of the year, although below the normal, 

 was not seriously so, but the summer and autumn was, and 

 had it not been for December's excess the total for the year 

 would have shown badly. 



The total, 1,789 hours, is 104 hours below the 23 years' 

 average, 1,893. Only one record has been broken, that of 

 December, in which month the previous highest of 71 hours 

 was exceeded by 9 hours and the record raised to 80 hours. 



Although April did not reach its previous record, its 

 large total as compared with March is worth of mention. 

 March fell short of 100 hours, and April reached 238, a 

 difference of 141 hours instead of the normal increase of 

 60 hours. 



The sunless days numbered 57 instead of 46, for which 

 increase February and March were chiefly responsible. 



From the agricultural point of view April may be said to 

 have saved the year from disaster, for had it not counteracted 

 the cold and gloom of the preceding months, vegetation would 

 have suffered a very serious check ; as it was, the early crops 

 were lessened in weight and value. 



