172 



DIVISION XIX. — (SCOT.) N. COUNTIES. 



Meteorological Observations on the Year 1879 from Caith- 

 ness and Sutherland. 



Caithness. Hardy trees and shrubs are never killed here by 

 frost, which was not below 18° in winter 1879-80, (Dunbeath Castle.) 

 A hard and protracted winter (1878-79), a cold and wet and late 

 spring, cold sunless humid summer, and a good but late autumn, 

 with very low temp. (Watten Station). Min. rainfall, Wick, alt., 

 77 ft. ; ht., 1 ft. 9 ins. ; 22*30 ins., on 209 days : max., Georgemas, 

 36-57 ins. Min, temp., Wick, alt,, 76 ft. ; Dec. 3rd, 15°. 



Sutherland. Rainfall, smallest for six years (Assynt). 2 ins. 

 below av. (Dunrobin Castle).* Min. rainfall, Tongue Ho., alt., 45 

 ft. ; ht., 5 ins. ; 27-11 ins. : max., Assynt, alt., 200 ? ft. ; ht., 9 ins. ; 

 66-80 ins. Min. temps., Lairg, alt., 460 ft. ; Dec. 3rd, 4° : Dun- 

 robin Castle, alt., 12 ft. ; Dec. 2nd, 19°-8 ; Jan. 12th, 26°. 



Reports. 



1. Sutherland — Golspie, Dunrobin Castle. — Mr. D. Melville. t 



Gen. Char, of Soil — A light, black, sandy loam. 



Alt. and Exposure — 10 to 15 ft. ; close to the sea ; sheltered on 

 N., N.W. and N.E. ; but exposed to E., S.E., S., S.W., and W. 



Rainfall, 1879 — 29-14 ins., on 187 days. Av. for 10 years, 

 31-71 ins. 



Date of Onset and Duration of Frost — Nov. 28th till Dec. 26th ; 

 no severe frost subsequently. 

 Min. Temp, and Date— Dec. 2nd, 19°- 7. 



Plants injured, 1879-80— Apples, stands., 2. Hollies, 2. Pears, 

 2. Roses, stands., many, 1. 



* See, The Weather in Sutherland, Qard. Chron., 1880, vol. xiii. p. 120. 

 t Partly from Rep. on Winter, 1879-80, by J. Sadler, p. 10, 



