74 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT ON METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS AT 

 WISLEY, 1914. 



By R. H. Curtis, Hon. F.R.H.S. 



The meteorological observations made at the Society's observatory at 

 Wisley have been continued without interruption throughout the year, 

 and the present is the eleventh annual report of the results obtained 

 since the observatory was established. 



The weather of the year 1914, so far as its character is indicated by 

 the observations, presents few features of very special interest. Taken, 

 as a whole, the year was a dry one, the rainfall being below the normal 

 amount in seven months of the twelve, and at times the want of rain 

 was a source of considerable trouble to gardeners ; but the closing 

 month of the year was one of almost unparalleled wetness, the rainfall 

 for the whole of England and Wales being rather more than double, 

 and at Wisley more than three times, the normal amount for December. 

 The year was also a warm one, and the mean temperature exceeded 

 the average in nine out of the twelve months, the relatively cool months 

 being those of early summer, whilst the later summer and autumn 

 months were dry and favourable for ripening crops and for harvest 

 operations. There was also ho lack of sunshine, especially in those 

 months in which the sun's direct heat is most needed ; and finally 

 such strong winds as were experienced came at the season of the year 

 when they are expected, and caused very little damage. The chief 

 climatic features of the year are seen at a glance by referring to the 

 diagrams, the first of which (fig. 37) shows how the temperature, after 

 beginning with unusual cold, then kept above the normal throughout 

 nearly the whole of the remaining months of the year ; whilst in 

 the lower part of the diagram the dryness of the spring and summer 

 months is also shown. 



Fig. 38 indicates the relation between the mean temperature of the 

 air and that of the soil at depths of 1 foot and 4 feet below the surface. 

 It will be seen how, even at the moderate depth of one foot, the soil 

 retains right up to the close of the year much of the warmth it absorbs 

 from the summer sunshine. 



In fig. 39 the dominant winds are indicated, and also, by the shaded 

 circle, the relative prevalence of calms. 



Fig. 40 exhibits the mean range of temperature from month to month 

 as shown by the maximum and minimum thermometer, and also by a 

 minimum thermometer laid upon close-cropped turf and fully exposed 

 to the sky, and giving an indication of the extreme degree of cold to 

 which growing plants are subject at night. 



The observations for the several months are as follows : — 



