49 



DIVISION V— S. W. COUNTIES. 



Meteorological Observations on the Year 1879, from Corn- 

 wall, Devonshire, Dorsetshire, Somersetshire and Wiltshire. 



Cornwall. Rainfall, excessive, with low temp, during the sum- 

 mer (Empacombe &c). At end of Sept., was 13 ins. above av. of 

 29 yrs. ; but from scarcity of rain in Oct., Nov. and Dec, the total 

 fall was above av. by only 2*53 ins. (Bodmin). Min. rainfall, New- 

 quay, alt., 90 ft. ; ht., 1 ft. 9 ins. ; 34-97 ins., on 171 days, being 

 12*77 ins. above the mean of 30 yrs. : max., Launceston, alt., 570 ft. ; 

 ht., 1 ft. ; 59-81 ins., on 213 days. Absence of sunshine had a very 

 injurious effect on plants (St. Agnes). Crops of every description 

 bad (Trevarna, Empacombe, &c). Min. temps., Alternon, alt., 

 570 ft. ; Dec. 2nd, 10° : Truro, Dec. 2nd, 17° : Bodmin, Dec. 5th, 20°. 



Plants injured, 1879-80—14 (1), 16 (2), 28 (3), total at 2 places. 



Devon. Rainfall, about 10 5 p. c. above av. of 15 yrs. (Ply- 

 mouth). Nine months (except March) wet ; but last 3 months very 

 dry; total rainfall, 38*56 ins. (Babbacombe). Min. rainfall, Ilfra- 

 combe, alt., 34 ft. ; ht., 9 ft. ; 31-38 ins., on 209 days : max., 

 Plympton, alt., 360 ft. ; ht., 1 ft. ; 69-81 ins. The effect of the wet 

 and cold season was disastrous to crops, e.g. wheat, hay, green crops 

 and potatoes (East Budleigh, Clawton, &c). Min. temps. — Exeter, 

 Dec. Uth, 15° : Exbourne, Dec. 4th, 17° : Dartmoor, alt., 1350 ft. ; 

 Dec. 2nd, 18° : Plymouth, alt., 73 ft. ; Dec. 5th, 20°-8. 



Plants injured, 1879-80-17 (1), 27 (2), 16 (3), total at 4 places. 



Dorset. A wretched summer ; temp, persistently low, with 

 marked absence of sun (Wimborne). Min. Rainfall, Chalbury, alt., 

 338 ft.; ht., 2 ft. ; 31-75 ius., on 183 days. Max., Minterne, alt., 

 566 ft. ; ht., 2 ft. ; 46*79 ins., on 156 days. Potato crop., half an 

 av., and much diseased; Wall-fruit, a failure * (Wimborne). Min. 

 temps., Beaminster, Dec. 4th, 15° : Lay ton Herring and Weymouth, 

 alt., 200 ft. ; Dec. 5th, 18° : Canford, Jan. 21st, 12° [too low ?]. 



Plants injured, 1879-80—25 (1), 36 (2), 40 (3), total at 7 places. 



Somerset. June, July and Aug., cold, cloudy and stormy ; Oct. 

 and Nov. very fine, dry and cold ; Bar. high (Bincombe House, 

 Taunton, &c). Rainfall below av. (Taunton, Exford) ; 5-30 ins. 



* For injuries to Vegetables, see Gard. Chron., 1880, p. 564. 



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