200 
Recent Agricultural Inventions. 
The left-hand map on page 197 is intended to indicate, by means 
of isotherms and values, the mean temperatures over the United 
Kingdom for the whole period of the frost. The figures denote the 
temperatures, and the lines the vai'ious limits of — under 30°, 30° to 
32°, 32° to 34°, 34° to 36°, 36° to 38°, and 38° to 40°. An isothermal 
line, it may be observed, is a line drawn tlirough places possessing 
the same temperature — in this case the same mean temperature. 
The great difference between the temperature of Scotland and 
Ireland, and that of England, is explained by the fact that during 
the whole period there was a large area of high barometric readings 
over Europe, which maintained an almost permanent position. The 
incoming distui'bances from the Atlantic could not make headway 
into Europe, but skirted to the westward of our islands, their 
centres keeping well out in the Atlantic. Consequently our western 
coasts felt the warming influence of these disturbances, although the 
weather remained comparatively quiet. England, especially its 
eastern parts, was not at all affected by tliese disturbances. 
The right-hand map on page 197 is designed to show the deficiency 
of the mean temperatures for the period of tlie frost, when compared 
with the averages of twenty years past. At Greenwich the mean 
was 9'5° below the avei'age, and in some parts it was more than 10° 
below, Avhile in the extreme north of Scotland it was approximately 
in agreement with average conditions. 
It is a noteworthy fact that, as may be learnt from the diagram 
on page 199, on only one day — January 13 — was the mean daily tem- 
pei-ature at Greenwich in excess of the average daily mean for sixty 
years. Indeed, the frost was throughout remarkable on account of 
the absence of any high temperatures. 
RECENT AGRICULTURAL INVENTIONS. 
T/ie subjects of Applicatio)is for Patents from Dec. 15, 1890, to 
March 14, 1891. 
N.B. —Where the Invention is a communication from abroad, the name of 
the Inventor is shown in italics, between pareutlieses, after the name of the 
applicant. 
Agricultural Machinery and Implements, &c. 
Application. Applicant. Title of luveution. 
Year 1890. 
20443 Cocker, J. N. . . Potato-harvester. 
20457 Barlow, H. n. (^Bich- 
ards 4' Carley) . . Automatic grain-weighers. 
20589 Toi'P, G. C. . . . Mowing and reajjing macliine. 
20(>02 }ioifSK,C.li. (Hcingdorf) Testing quality of grain or seeds. 
20690 Brown, T. . . . Boater bar for thresliing machines. 
20739 Bradbury, J. . . Forming, binding, &c. trusses or sheaves. 
20837 Chandlur, A. . . Apparatus employed in mowing and reapipg. 
