532 
mr. a. w. prbston’s meteorological notes. 
TEMPERATURE. 
Seasons. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
1900. 
1901. 
1902. 
20-year 
average. 
1883—02 
Departure 
o f 1902 from 
average. 
Winter 
Spring 
Summer 
Autumn 
degrees. 
38.3 
46.9 
61.9 
50.3 
degrees. 
41.3 
45.8 
59.7 
54.0 
degrees. 
42.6 
46.2 
61,9 
51.2 
degrees. 
37.4 
45.3 
61.6 
51.6 
degrees. 
39.0 
46.3 
61.4 
50.7 
degrees. 
37.9 
46.3 
58.7 
50.1 
degrees. 
38.0 
46.3 
60.3 
50.2 
degrees. 
— 0.1 
0.0 
— 1.6 
— 0.1 
Year 
49.5 
50.5 
49.8 
49.6 
48.8 
48.4 
48.7 
—0.3 
RAINFALL. 
Seasons. 
1897. 
1898. 
1899. 
190(1. 
1901. 
1902. 
38-year 
average 
1865—02 
Departure 
of 1902 from 
average. 
Winter ... 
Spring ... 
Summer ... 
Autumn ... 
ill. 
7.86 
5.05 
4.17 
6.42 
in. 
4.11 
6.18 
6.90 
5.65 
in. 
5.82 
6.84 
3.52 
8.31 
in. 
7.42 
4.26 
8.77 
5.32 
in. 
5.88 
5.10 
3.61 
5.11 
in. 
6.09 
6.77 
7.82 
4.14 
in. 
5.96 
5.27 
6.94 
8.01 
iu. 
+ 0.13 
+ 1.50 
+ 0.88 
—3.87 
Year 
22.07 
23.33 
23.94 
26.99 
21.06 22.30 
26.18 
— 3.88 
It will be observed from the foregoing that, with the exception of 
the summer, which was about one and a half degree below the 
average, each of the seasons gave about normal temperature, the 
severity of February counterbalancing the mildness of January, 
and the coldness of May proving a set-off to the warmth of March. 
As to the rainfall, that of the winter was of normal amount, the 
spring (through the wet May) excessive, and the summer slightly in 
excess, whereas the autumn yielded but little more than half the 
usual amount. 
The Year. 
The special feature of the year was the unusually cold spring (in 
the latter part), and the exceptionally wet May. Although the 
summer was cool and humid, with a conspicuous absence of hot 
days, the rainfall was not much above the average, and there were 
intervals of fine weather at times. The year’s rainfall was nearly 
four inches deficient, and, following as it does, so many dry years, 
the want of water was much felt in the late autumn and early 
winter. A really rainy year has not been experienced since 1892, 
and in seven out of the last ten years the total rainfall has failed to 
reach twenty-four inches. Harvest commenced about August 14th. 
