for Ticenty Years in succession on the same Land. 
159 
March, April, and especially May, were colder than the average, 
whilst June, July, and August, though showing average day- 
teinperatures lully as high as usual, were very changeable, 
and in June and July the nights were cold. In each of the 
months of January, February, March, April, May, June, and 
July, there was considerably more rain than in the corresponding 
months of 1854 — in all nearly 6 inches more; whilst, in April 
there was an excess over the average, in May more than double 
the average, and in August again an excess. 
The season of 1856 was, therefore, characterised by a great 
excess of rain during the early periods of grov/th ; considerably 
more than in 1854, and there was, besides, considerably more 
than in that year, both before and after that period. There 
were also, almost throughout, great fluctuations, and high ranges, 
of temperature. In other words, the season was very wet, with 
marked alternations of heat and cold, whilst it was, for the 
period of the year, the coldest during the time of the greatest 
excess of rain. Finally, there were heavy rains, with considerable 
fluctuations of temperature, about the ripening and harvest 
period. The very bad result in this season would seem to be 
due, therefore, to an excess of rain, with, at the same time, great 
alternations of temperature, during the most active periods of 
growth, entirely preventing continuity of progress ; whilst the 
unhealthy plant thus produced was subjected to unfavourable 
maturing conditions. 
The above description of the climatic conditions of the two 
seasons, as collated from meteorological records, will probably 
strike the reader as not showing so great a contrast as would be 
expected between the season of the greatest, and that of the least, 
productiveness of the twenty. Certainly 1854 was not marked 
by individual periods of more than ordinarily active luxuriance ; 
the circumstances were rather those of steady and unbroken 
accumulation, followed by favourable maturing conditions. The 
extremely productive season of 1863 showed in this respect 
similar characteristics. It should be remembered, indeed, that 
both wheat and barley will flourish under very temperate condi- 
tions. Again, the record of the climatic circumstances under 
which the extremely bad crop of 1856 was produced, shows some 
points in respect to which, considered by themselves, it might be 
judged to have been more favourable for luxuriance than 1854. 
It is only when the fluctuations of temperature, the continuity of 
the wetness, and the adaptations of heat and moisture to stage 
of growth, are borne in mind, that the result becomes intelligible. 
These two instances, so strikingly contrasted in their results, 
forcibly illustrate the necessity, not only of very careful and 
detailed study of the meteorological registry, but also of due 
