43G 
Farniiiuj of Dorsetshire. 
Montldtj Fall of Rain for Dorset. 
1852. 853. 
January .«i'7 4-3 
February 1'4 1-2 
March O'G 1'2 
April 0-9 2-9 
May 2-6 2-1 
June 4-8 2-7 
July 1-0 2-4 
August 4-9 2*2 
September 5"1 2"l 
October 6-5 6-1 
November 7*7 1"6 
December 4-9 0'8 
Fall in the year .... 4G-1 29 -G 
The gauge taken at West Lodge gave, for 1852, 57'33 ; for 
1853 (to" Dec. 13), 35-42. 
In a hilly and sea-coast county, like Dorset, observations taken 
in different parts will be varied greatly by local circumstances, 
such as elevation, shelter, i5cc. : such variations have already been 
found practically to influence cultivation. Thus, whilst on his 
vale-farm Mr. Huxtable grows wheat successfully, on his hill- 
farm, distant scarcely three miles, but at an elevation of 600 
feet, he has been compelled to limit the growth of this grain as 
much as possible. The blight in wheat is a subject upon which 
Ave hope soon to see the observations of the meteorologist brought 
carefully to bear. To all cultivators of the soil the cause of 
blight is a most interesting problem ; to none probaljly is it more 
interesting than to the Dorsetshire farmer, whose high hills and 
sea breezes expose him peculiarly to this infliction. All along 
the coast, but chiefly from INIarch to May, this blight is felt ; the 
corn crops are affected ; artificial grasses and pastures are some- 
times rusted, and the lambs on them get a scour, which occa- 
sionally is fatal. Near the sea, too, beans are cut up by the 
wind, which leaves its track behind on the branches of the 
stunted trees, all Avliich, near or within a few miles of the coast, 
have a N.E. inclination. The sea blights are supposed to arise 
from the saline breezes of the Atlantic, which, laden with A'apour, 
sweep over the hills, in the colder air of which the vapours 
become condensed, rolling into the adjoining valleys. This 
view seems to have a stamp of jirobability upon it ; for in the 
low lands, immediately exposed to the sea, the blight is said to be 
unknown ; but if this be really the solution of the question, 
similar results sliould be exliil)ited all round the coasts ; and we 
have noticed, that at some distance in the interior of the county, 
blight is also experienced. Whether the blight which affects the 
wheat plant at Sutton Waldron is identical with, or different 
from, that felt near the coast ; whether they proceed from fungi 
