METEOROLOGY ; IMPORTATIONS OF GRAIN ; SALES OF 
BRITISH WHEAT ; PRICES OF CORN AND OTHER 
PRODUCE; AGRICULTURAL STATISTICS; AND STA- 
TISTICS OF DAIRY PRODUCE. 
[The facts are derived chiefly from the Meteorological Bepm-ts of Mr. 
Glaisher, and the Beturns of the Board of Trade and of the Inspectob- 
Gejteral of Imports and Exports.] 
METEOROLOGY.— 1881 . 
First Quarter (January, February, March). — The mean reading of 
the barometer during the quarter was 29*70 and slightly below the 
average reading in the corresponding periods of 40 years; each. 
montHy mean was below the average, the greatest deficiency 
occurring in February. The first few days in January were fine, 
but an exceptionally cold period set in on 7th and lasted until 27 th, 
snow falling, with but one exception, on each day from 9th to 27th; 
February was, for the most part, wet, cold, and gloomy, with an 
excess of east wind, and frequent falls of snow ; it was cold at the 
beginning and end of March, but warm and genial weatber pre- 
vailed from 4tb to 20th of the month. In January the mean tem- 
perature showed a deficiency of 4^-9, and the mean in February 
was 0''9 below the average ; whereas in March the mean tempera- 
ture showed an excess of 1°'5. At the Royal Observatory the 
thermometer fell below the freezing-point of water on 18 days in 
January, 11 in February, and 11 in March; in all, on 40 days in 
the quarter. The lowest reading on each of these 40 days showed 
an aggregate of 274°-3 of frost. In tbe first quarter of 1879 there 
were 49 frosty days, but the aggregate degrees of frost did not 
exceed 185'-4. The first quarter of this year was colder than any 
corresponding period since 1855. 
The falls of snow throughout the quarter were exceptional; 
snow fell on 53 days, and the snowstorm of the 18 th day of 
January was very remarkable; this day was bitterly cold and 
there was a gale from the east, with driving snow that penetrated 
everywhere. The snow began to fall about 9.0 a.m., and at mid- 
VOL. XVIII. — S. S. A 
