XXXIV 



In 1800 no rain fell for 74 days till the 19th of August, when a 

 glorious rain came down. This record was however beaten by one of 

 a much earlier date, that of the year 1102, which was so hot and dry 

 that forests, and fields of standing corntcok fire. The year 1826 is re- 

 corded as being the hottest year for 63 years, and that, as in 1768, the 

 hot summer was followed by an unusually mild and open winter and 

 spring. 1858 also was a year of extreme heat, every month with the 

 exception of October and November being above the average. On 

 7 days the thermometer stood above 90 0 December was also a re- 

 markable month, being one of the warmest, wettest, and most stormy 

 on record, with thunder storms almost daily. 1870 was another fine 

 year, but not so hot as 1868. 1887 had a remarkably fine summer, 

 lasting from the early part of June to the 27th of August. The re- 

 mainder of the year was however very wet, as were also the months 

 of April and May. 



A remarkable contrast is afforded by the two successive years 1887 

 and 1888. In the two months of June and July, 1888, there were 507 

 hours of brilliant sunshine, whilst in June and July, 1888, there were 

 only 227 hours of sunshine at all. The year 1888 is more remarkable 

 for containing the two coldest days on record in July, the 13th and 14th. 

 The mean temperature on the former day was as low as 46" 2" and on 

 the latter 48*1", whilst the lowest records in July of any previous years 

 are 47*7" in July 20th, 1836, and 48- in July 8th, 1856. The lowest 

 temperature reached on 13th July, 1888 was 42*8", and the highest 

 55 '7". This unseasonable coldness was due to the frequent and heavy 

 rainfall, and the fact that heavy falls of snow took place in the moun- 

 tainous regions of Great Britain, and even in some central parts of 

 England. (In 1885 snow fell on 16th May). It will not be difficult 

 to find two days in the month of January of higher temperature than 

 these two in July, 1888. 



The most severe winters of the present century are those of 1795-96, 

 1813-14, 1829-30, 1837-38, 1854-55, 1860-61, 1870-71, and 1880-81. 

 In the winter of 181 3- 14, the Thames was frozen over so hard that a 

 fire was lighted upon it and an ox roasted. It was frozen over also in 

 the winter of 1795-96, 1829-30, and 1880-81, The coldest March is 

 probably that of 1888. Cold springs with North-easterly winds, and 

 frosts in May, appear to have a more injurious effect upon insect life 

 than severe winters. Such for instance as that of 1861 when the oaks 

 which came out early, had all their leaves blackened and cut off by the 



