The Weather of 1893 . 
187 
The temperature of the air, with the exception of the short period 
from the 17th to the 21st, was above the average, and we have to go 
back to 1859 for as warm a March, and there are but four other 
instances back to 1771. The mean atmospheric pressure was higher 
than in any March back to 1874. The fall of rain was remarkably 
small j and we must go back to the year 1854 to find a March with 
so small a rainfall. 
Second Quarter. — The weather in April was noteworthy for its 
small rainfall, unusual amount of sunshine, and fineness generally. 
The temperature of the air was above its average on nearly every 
day ; after the middle of the month the temperature was that of 
summer. The atmospheric pressure was also above its average, and 
the mean was higher than in any April back to 1861. The fall of 
rain was only 0 - 09 inch at Blackheath, and we must go back to 1855 
for as small a fall. The fall of rain in March and April together 
was 0 - 49 inch, and we have to go back to 1840 for so small a fall. 
The consequent drought became very serious, particularly in the 
southern and midland counties. 
The weather in May was remarkably fine and dry, being, in 
fact, a continuation of the exceptional weather of the two preceding 
months. The temperature of the air was above its average on nearly 
every day till the 29th. The atmospheric pressure was above its 
average till the 14th, and from the 25th. The fall of rain was 
0 - 52 inch, and in the three months — March, April, and May — it 
was 1 inch, giving a daily average of only about 1-1 00th inch, 
which is, so far as I know, unprecedented. The drought was 
general, but it was most severe at the southern stations. 
The weather in June was very fine and dry. The temperature 
of the air was generally above its average, but was occasionally, for 
two or three days together, below. It was very warm about the 
middle of the month. The atmospheric pressure was above its 
average from the 4th to the 12th, on the 16th, 17th, 18th, and 30th 
days, and below on all other days. The fall of rain at Blackheath 
was small ; a little fell on the 7th and 20th, and daily from the 
23rd to the 28th. The drought, which began on March 5th, con- 
tinued to June 22nd ; the fall of rain 
in. 
days 
From March 5 
to 31 was 0-140 . . 
. 27 
„ April 1 
„ 30 
„ 0-086 . . 
. 30 
„ May 1 
„ 31 
„ 0-515 . . 
. 31 
„ June 1 
„ 22 
„ 0-170 . . 
. 22 
0-911 
110 
The fall of rain in the months of March to June was less than 
in any four consecutive months back to 1815. Hay crops were 
deficient everywhere, but were better in the north than in the south, 
where they were very light. In some places the crop quite failed. 
Third Quarter. — The weather in the early part of July was very 
warm, and the month was generally fine and warm. The tempera- 
ture of the air was above its average till the 11th, and from the 
20th to the 25th, and below from the 12th to the 19th, and from 
