By Mr. Archibald Gorrie. 



435 



The mean temperature for the vegetating season in 1824, 

 was 53° 1' (for the whole of that year 47° 4', which is nearly 

 the average mean at this place) ; the supply of rain was 

 limited, being only 13 T V inches for the vegetating season 

 (and only 23^ inches for the whole year). The want of 

 moisture at the root forced an early and, in some instances, 

 a premature ripeness, the crops in general were short, and 

 ready from three to four weeks earlier than in the preceding 

 season. In England, rains were unusually heavy, which 

 retarded the ripening of the crops in the south, and the 

 harvest commenced simultaneously, that season, in the Carse 

 of Gowrie, and in the southern counties of England, and 

 under a difference of at least four degrees of mean tem- 

 perature in favour of the southern counties, a proof of the 

 influence of moisture in retarding vegetation. 



The mean temperature for the vegetating season of the 

 present year, was 54° 6' (for the whole year to this date, 

 December 22d, 48° 4). The quantity of rain during the 

 vegetating season only amounted to 10£ inches : by looking 

 at the red lines in the index of the rain guage, it will appear 

 that a considerable proportion of this rain fell before the 

 end of June ; it will also be seen that the temperature did 

 not much exceed the ordinary average till towards the end 

 of July; consequently, in the ripening of Strawberries, and 

 other early fruits, this year, there was no particular indication 

 of an early season. The elevated temperature and limited 

 supply of moisture in July and August, brought on a simul- 

 taneous ripening of the crops in the fields, from two to three 

 weeks earlier than the usual period. The ripening of wall 

 fruit was in the same proportion accelerated. 

 vol. vi. 3 L 



