LESSONS I'Ko.M 'IlIK (IKKAT I)J{( )r(; IIT 01- 1898. 
131 
that the drought was most severe in the south and south-west of England ; 
that it was also keenly felt in the IMidlands and eastern counties of 
England ; that it was less pronounced in the north-west and north-east 
of England; while in most parts of Scotland and throughout Ireland 
the deficiency of rain was comparatively slight. 
For comparative purposes, when dealing with large areas like the 
Meteorological Office districts, the distribution of the rainfall may perhaps 
MAP 
Fig. 51. 
to a certain extent be ignored. Nevertheless it is a very important factor ; 
and were it possible to include its influence in the foregoing tables, the 
drought we are now dealing with would no doubt be seen to have been 
in reality more trying than there represented. For example, a single 
drenching thunderstorm passing over any district might yield a large 
quantity of rain, and so raise the average weekly amount for that 
district, but this rain would be of comparatively little service to vegetation 
