mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
315 
full spring foliage, such as Beeches, Horse-chestnuts, &c., were 
quite bowed down, and nearly broken, by the weight of the snow. 
The thermometer failed to touch 50 degrees on the 16th, 17th, and 
18th ; and the mean temperature of the week, ending the 23rd, was 
only 44.8 degrees, or about the normal temperature at the close of 
March. The 9 a.m. readings of the thermometer on the 16th and 
18th were slightly lower than is usual in January; in fact, there 
were twenty-two days in January, 1890, when the 9 a.m. readings 
were higher than on the two days in question. The weather 
remained cold and wet till the 28th; over 3 inches of rain falling 
in the fortnight ending the 29th. The mean temperature of the 
month was about 3 degrees below the average ; about 4 degrees 
colder than May, 1890; about 6 degrees colder than May, 1889 ; 
but a little in excess of May, 1887. 
June. 
The first twelve days of the month were exceedingly cold for 
the season, with a great prevalence of northerly winds. The 
thermometer did not touch 60 degrees for eight consecutive days 
(4th to 11th), an unusual occurrence in June. From the 13th to 
the end of the month, the weather was fine, bright, and warm, the 
temperature rising above 70 degrees on eleven days. The rainfall 
of the month was about an inch and a quarter deficient. 
July. 
July, for the fourth year in succession, gave us over 4 inches of 
rain, and a deficient mean temperature, making it appear almost as 
if the hot days, and brilliant sunshine with which the month was 
associated, had becomo a thing of the past. This month is, 
however, very frequently the wettest of the year; its average 
rainfall is almost as great as November; and it sometimes happens 
that a succession of cold summers occur without a break. This 
was particularly remarked towards the close of the last century ; 
and again, in each of the years 1809 to 1817 inclusive, there was 
a deficient temperature both in July and August. On the other 
hand, in more recent times, 1868 to 1876 inclusive (with the 
exception of one year), gave summers of great heat and dryness. 
The rainfall of the month, as above stated, exceeded 4 inches, and 
in some parts of the county over 6 inches were gauged ; the 
