68 



Broughton Giffortl. 



as we proceed in the year, we soon find the cause of its low annual jj 

 mean. During the five last months of the year it was continually 

 depressed below 29. On August 11th the mercury was depressed 

 here to 28*79. On November 16th it was at 2872. The alterna- 

 tions in the rise and fall of the mercury were violent and rapid. 

 It sometimes rose *8 in eight hours, and was often highest, and the 

 weather finest, just before the greatest fall. In November there 

 was only one fine day, the 18th, the day of the Duke's funeral. 

 The whole atmosphere was charged with electricity, thunder and 

 lightning were continual. This was owing to the disturbance of 

 the equilibrium of the atmosphere by excessive evaporation; for 

 during all this bad weather the range of the thermometer was far 

 above the average. The winter of 1834 was thought remarkable 

 for its high temperature; the thermometer in December being 55°. 

 But in November 1852 it was 61°*8, and in December 56°. The 

 mean for those months, on an average of thirty-five years, has been 

 observed to be 43°*62, 39°- 41; but in 1852 it was 48°*6, 46°7. 



The exceptional character of the weather in 1852 appears further 

 from the measurements of the rain gauge. The average annual fall 

 of rain at Greenwich is about 24 inches. But in 1852 it was 35*52 

 inches; and that again in spite of the dry spring; in March and 

 April only 0 525 inch fell, one-sixth of the usual quantity. As we 

 proceed in the year, the figures soon begin to mount up. On the 

 7th and two following days of June, 2*34 inches fell, more than on 

 any three consecutive days for at least twenty-six years. On 

 August 11th more than 1 inch. During August and the three 

 following months 18*81 inches fell, an amount never before observ- 

 ed in Kent. In November alone there were upwards of 6 inches. 

 The inundations all over the country were excessive. Of those 

 here mention has already been made. 



The Flora of Broughton Gtifford 1 



Is not without interest to the Botanist. The following is an enu- 

 meration of some of the more interesting plants that have been 



1 For this Parochial Flora my best thanks are due to Mr. Thomas Bruges 

 Flower. 



