( n ) 
average for the corresponding period in 109 years by 1°*0 ; the 
mean showed a deficiency in January of 3°-3, but exceeded the 
average in February and March by 3°-l and 3°-2 respectively. 
The fall of rain at Greenwich for the quarter was only 3"2 inches, 
or 1-8 inches below the average for the coiTesponding period of 
65 years. The aggregate amount measured was 0*3 inches in 
January, 2-3 inches in February, and 0 6 inches in March. 
The number of hours of bright sunshine recorded during the 
quarter at the Greenwich Observatory was 235*9, against 141'0 and 
137-5 respectively in the first quarters of 1878 and 1879. There 
was a marked increase in the recorded amount of sunshine in each 
of the three months of the quarter. 
Second Quarter {April, May, June). — The weather in April was 
variable. For a few days at the beginning of the month, the warm 
period which set in on February 6th continued, accompanied by 
strong S.W. winds. On April 6th the temperature declined below 
the average, the wind changed to the N.E., and remained there till 
the 16tb ; the wind then changed to the S.W., and the weather for 
a week was genial and warm ; after this it suddenly became cold 
again, and the remainder of the month was ungenial, with strong 
N.E. winds. The month was showery, and the amount of rain 
was somewhat in excess of the average all over the country, but 
upon the whole it was a fine April month, very favourable for 
agricultural work, following, as it did, a dry March. 
The first half of the month of May was cold ; N. and N.E. winds, 
at times blowing very strongly, were prevalent till the 21st day ; 
then S.W. winds prevailed till the 30th, and the wind was again 
N.E. on the last day. The weather was generally fine and dry, 
with occasional bright and warm sunshine, and there was very 
little rain. The nights were generally cold, the reading of the 
thermometer with, its bulb on grass falling frequently below 82° at 
night. 
At the end of the month vegetation was somewhat backward, 
but the prospects were considered favourable. 
The month of June was unsettled ; the first half was very cold, 
with strong N. and N.E. winds for a few days at the beginning ; 
then there were S.W. winds, but the cold continued ; then N. and 
N.E. winds again ; from the 18th the winds were mostly from the 
S.S.W. and W.S.W., and the weather was warmer. Till the 26th, 
with the exception of three or four days, rain fell daily ; from the 
19th to the 26th, thunderstorms were frequent, with heavy rain 
and hail, causing much damage to crops. 
At the end of the month, pastures and green crops looked well, 
having benefited a good deal by the frequent gentle rain, and 
