KEPORT ON THE METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 391 
EEPORT ON THE METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE 
IN THE SOCIETY'S GARDENS AT CHISWICK IN 1899. 
By Mr. Edwaed Mawley, Sec, R. Met. Soc. 
Previous Meteorological Becords at CJiiswick. — About seventy-five 
years ago a set of meteorological instruments of the best construction 
then known were provided for the Gardens at Chiswick, and observations 
started under the auspices of Professor Daniell, F.R.S. For nearly 
twenty years these observations were published in extenso in the trans- 
actions of the Society. In 1871 Mr. James Glaisher, F.R.S. , issued as a 
supplement to volume ii. of the Society's Journal, New Series, a little 
work entitled Reductions of the Meteorological Observations made at 
the Royal Horticultural Gardens, Chiswick, in the Years 1826-1869 " in 
which the temperature and rainfall readings taken during those forty-four 
years were arranged and discussed. This series of observations came to 
an end in 1874, when the instruments were dismounted and removed. 
The Present Observations. — Towards the end of 1898 the Council 
decided to commence a fresh set of meteorological observations in accord- 
ance with modern methods, being of opinion that the Society's Gardens 
would be incomplete without a trustworthy record being kept in them 
from day to day of temperature, atmospheric humidity, and rainfall, all 
of which exert such an important influence upon plant life. The shade 
temperature observations, as well as those of rainfall, were commenced 
on February 1, 1899, but the grass minima and soil temperature read- 
ings were not begun until a few days later, February 4. All the 
arrangements in connection with the establishment of the new meteoro- 
logical station were carried out under the direction of the Garden 
Superintendent, Mr. S. T. Wright, under whose general supervision the 
observations have since been made. 
Any Fellow wishing to start weather observations in his own garden 
cannot do better than take the present equipment at Chiswick as a model. 
It will show what instruments are necessary for such an equipment, and 
the best methods of exposing them in order that their readings may be 
strictly comparable with those made at any other well-ordered meteoro- 
logical station in the British Isles. 
The Position of the Instruments. — A suitable site for the instruments 
was readily found close to the spot selected for the former meteorological 
station in 1825. The situation chosen leaves nothing to be desired, 
being level, open, without being too exposed, and well away from trees, 
walls, and buildings. The instrument enclosure, which was in the first 
instance turfed over, is 26 feet long by 24 feet wide, and is surrounded by 
a light iron railing. Its height above mean sea-level is 24 feet. The 
instruments were placed in their present positions as soon as the 
necessary arrangements had been made for their reception. 
The Thermometers generally. — All the thermometers are standard 
