192 Our Climate and our Wheat- Crops. 
in only one season (1854) was there a really severe winter 
month. With these few exceptions every other month of the 
six within each of the six seasons was either about average or 
over average, and in many cases very much over average as to 
temperature. Then as to the rainfall over the same period. 
In two of the seasons there were two months, and in two there 
was only one month, with any considerable excess of rain ; whilst 
in the other two there was a deficiency in every month of the 
six. There were, therefore, in each of the six seasons, four, five, 
or six of these six months considerably drier than the average. 
Next, as to the three months of May, June, and July. In two 
out of the six seasons, each of the three months was warmer 
than the average ; in two each was colder than the average ; 
and in the remaining two there were warmer and colder months, 
giving about average mean temperatures. As to the rain of 
these three months, in one out of the six years there were two 
of the three, in four there was only one of the three, and in the 
other in neither month an excess of rain. In one only of the 
six years was the total rain of the three months over the average ; 
though, in three of the six seasons there was an excess in August. 
With these explanations as to the elements making up the 
averages for the six seasons, it is to be observed that their 
average mean temperature was higher than that of 108 years, 
in every month of the twelve ; but that the excess was very 
much greater in the months prior to May than in May and 
afterwards. In fact, the excess of mean temperature, taking the 
average of these six seasons of greatest productiveness of both 
corn and straw, is, notwithstanding the coldness of one or two 
winter or spring months in individual seasons, very much 
greater before May than afterwards, and it is, notwithstanding 
the high summer temperature of two of the years, quite in- 
significant afterwards. Turning now to the average rainfall : 
there is less than the average amount in nine months out of the 
twelve, and in the other three the excess is quite insignificant. 
It is remarkable, too, that the longest period of deficiency is from 
seed-time to the end of April ; the period during which the 
temperatures were at the same time more in excess of the average. 
Further, the only month of any important amount of average 
excess is June ; but Table VI. shows that there was, even in 
that month, not more than the average number of rainy days ; 
whilst, of course, the higher temperatures, and the growth of 
the crops, at that period, would tend to counteract any otherwise 
evil effects from an excess. 
Upon the whole, then, the seasons of highest productiveness 
of all were characterised by higher than average temperatures 
during most of the winter and the early spring. Some were 
