mr. a. w. preston’s meteorological notes. 
341 
February. 
On the 1st and 2nd February the screened thermometer 
fell to 20.2° and 20.8°, and the exposed instrument to 14.3° 
and 14.8° respectively, and these were the two sharpest 
frosts of the winter. There was but little frost during the 
remainder of the month, of which the mean temperature 
was nearly 2° above the average, causing vegetation to 
make an early start. There were some very stormy days 
in the second half of the month. 
March. 
The month wars, for the most pai’t, cloudy, ungenial, and 
cold, with a considerable deficiency of sunshine, and rough 
winds on many days. During the week ending the 18th 
1.50 ins. of rain, hail, sleet, and snow fell, and there were 
many cold ungenial days at this time. Winterly conditions 
also prevailed between the 23rd and 27th, but there were 
not many sharp frosts. The deficiency of sunshine for the 
month was as much as 27'9 hours. 
April. 
The first week was very cold, with blizzards of snow and 
hail, yielding nearly half an inch of water when melted. 
The 5th was a remarkable day for the time of year, the day 
temperature not exceeding 34'7°, which is the lowest April 
maximum on my registers, in fact the thermometer stood 
below the freezing point nearly throughout the day and 
night, in some places quite throughout, and no other day 
during the winter was as cold. Incalculable mischief was 
done to the peach, nectarine, and other early fruit blossom 
by this arctic visitation. On the 14th (Good Friday) a 
sudden change to warmth set in, and many fine, mild 
days ensued, the thermometer exceeding 60° on nine days. 
The rainfall of the month was slightly under the average. 
A thunderstorm occurred at Norwich on the 26th. 
