230 JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORIICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



REPORT ON THE METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE 

 AT THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN AT WISLEY IN 1906. 



By R. H. Curtis, F.R.Met.Scc. 



The observations at the Garden were made regularly throughout the 

 year by Mr. T. Frazer and Mr. R. Wallis, and the instruments v/hen 

 examined and verified by me at the end of June were all found to be 

 in excellent order. One of the earth thermometers subsequently be- 

 came broken, but by using a substitute the observations were continued 

 without interruption, and a reserve thermometer has now been added 

 to the equipment of the station in view of the possibility of a similar 

 accident occurring in the future. 



January. — The weather throughout January was generally of an 

 unsettled character, with frequent gales and strong winds ; but as the 

 prevailing winds were from the south-westward right through the month 

 they were accompanied by mild open weather, and the temperature 

 was everywhere above the average. Towards the close of the 

 month there were some exceptionally warm days, with maximum tem- 

 peratures in some localities considerably above 50° ; but as there were no 

 very low temperatures, the range of the thermometer was not great. 

 Thunderstorms were experienced in some districts, and there were a few 

 snowstorms, but none of special severity. The rainfall was above the 

 average all over the kingdom, and in many parts of the southern counties 

 the fall amounted to from 4 to 8 inches. But notwithstanding the heavy 

 rainfall there was also a fair amount of sunshine over the southern half 

 of the kingdom, the northern half being less favoured in this respect. 



Observations made at Wisley : 



Mean temperature 



of 



the 



air in shade 





42' 



=^•3 





Highest „ 



> 





... 





53 



°-3 on the 



i 6th 



Lowest „ 







... . 





25' 



„ 



24th 



Lowest ,, 



on 



the 



grass 





19 





23rd 











At 1 ft. 





At 2 ft. 



At 4 ft. 











deep. 





deep. 



deep. 



Mean temperature 



of 



the 



soil at 9 a.m 



40°-7 





42°-3 



43°-7 



Highest „ 









44°-8 





45°-0 



44°-6 



Lowest ,, 





5 





36°-2 





39°-6 



42°-6 



Mean relative humidity of the air at 9 a.m. (complete saturation being 



represented by 100) 88% 



Eain fell on 23 days to the total depth of 3-66 ins. 



(Equivalent to about 17 gallons of water per square yard.) 



Heaviest fall on any day 0'70 in. on the 16th 



The prevailing winds were south-westerly. 



The average velocity of the wind was 8 miles per hour. 



There were 73-5 hours of bright sunshine, equal to 29 per cent, of the total possible 

 amount, and there were only 2 entirely sunless days. 



February. — This was a stormy, unsettled month, with rather low 

 temperature and more than the usual amount of rain, but yet re- 

 markably bright and sunny. The winds were chiefly from some westerly 



