METEOROLOGY ; IMPORTATIONS OF GRAIN ; SALES OF 
BRITISH WHEAT ; TRICES OF CORN AND OTHER 
PRODUCE; AGRICQLTURAL STATISTICS; AND STA- 
TISTICS OF DAIRY PRODUCE. 
[^The fads are derived chiefly from, the Meteorological Reports of Mr. 
Glaisher, and the Returns of the Board of Trade and of the Inspector- 
General OF Imports and Exports.] 
METEOROLOGY.— 1880. 
First Quarter {January, February, March). — The winter of 1879- 
80, like that of 1878-79, was exceptionally long and severe. 
January was exceedingly col J, with the smallest rainfall since 
1826, very high barometer readings throughout the month, and an 
absence of strong winds. Several days toward the end of the 
month were distinguished by very low temperatures. February 
was warm, with a rainfall somewhat above its average, with high 
barometer readings during the first week, and low afterwards, and 
with strong winds occasionally. March was warm during the first 
half of the month, with frequent strong winds; from the 11th 
day the wind was mostly from the east, and occasionally the- 
weather was cold ; the rainfall was small, and the readings of the 
barometer were high, and constantly above their averages from 
the 5th day. The month was most favourable for agricultural 
work. The few days of warm weather with which the year 1879 
closed, continued till the 5th day of January ; the average excess 
of these five days was 6i°. On the 6th, a cold period set in, and 
continued to February 5th ; the average deficiency of temperature 
for these 31 days was 5i°, and from February 6th to March 31st, 
the weather was, with few exceptions, warm, and the mean daily 
excess for these 55 days was 3°-2. The mean temperature at the 
Royal Observatory, Greenwich, was below the average during 
each of the 15 months ending January last; the mean of this cold 
period was only 44°-0, and was lower than in any previous corre- 
sponding period since 1813-15. There is, however, no previous 
instance on record of the mean temperature having been below the 
average for 15 successive months. 
The mean temperature of the quarter was 39°'8, and exceeded the 
VOL. XVII. — s. S. A 
