104 
THE MEDITERRANEAN N..TI KAI.K! 
Month 
Greenwich. 
Malta 
January 
10. 0° 
10. 6° 
February 
12. 3 
11. 7 
1 
i 
March 
15. 2 
12. 4 
| 
April 
19. 1 
13. 3 
May 
20. 2 
15. 0 
1 
June 
20. 8 
14. 8 
| 
July 
21. 3 
16. 9 
( 
August 
20. 0 
15. 4 
I 
September 
19. 8 
14. 1 
October 
14. 6 
11. 4 
November 
11. 7 
10. 8 
j 
i December 
9. 5 
9. 8 
It will be seen from this table that in Malta, as 
in England, the greatest range occurs in July 
when the days are longest; and the smallest 
range in December, when the days are shortest. 
But while the absolute mean temperature of 
Greenwich in Juiy averages 61. 8°, that of Malta 
is 72. 6°, a difference that renders the English 
summer evenings much more bracing than are 
those of Malta, though the liability to colds and 
analagous diseases is much greater in the former 
than in the latter country. 
In winter, on the other hand, while the average 
mean at Greenwich is 36.3° (.Jan.) with an average 
range of 10°, that of Malta is 53° with the same 
range. The Maltese winter is therefore equivalent 
to the finest of English Springs; and it is gene- 
rally characterised by fine, cool, and bracing 
weather. 
The effect of this equability of the Maltese 
climate is strikingly shown by the vegetation 
which flourishes luxuriantly for fully nine months 
of the year in the rich and fertile soil that clothes 
the plains, and the slopes of the hills and valleys. 
Arboreal vegetation is rare ; but this is due to the 
want of a sufficient depth of soil, for \vhere-ever 
trees have been introduced, and properly cared 
for they have flourished vigorously. Grapes, 
melons, and tomatoes are cultivated in the open 
fields. 
These facts sufficiently indicate the mildness of 
the Malta climate, but neither these nor thermo- 
metric results furnish such conclusive evidences as 
does the growth of exotic plants in the open. 
Thermometric results are often deceptive and do 
not furnish an accurate standard of comparison 
as regards the temperature that- actually affects 
the body. Thus given tivo days with the same 
conditions as to sun and sky, but on the one a 
brisk breeze is blowing, while on the other no 
wind arises, the former will seem much wanner 
and more agreeable than the latter. And yet the 
thermometer will probably register the same de- 
gree on both days. This difference in the felt 
temperature is clue to the rapid evaporation from 
the surface of the body that has been induced by 
the current of air. The thermometer therefore 
cannot always be looked upon as an unfailing 
index of the sensible temperature of a climate: 
but the state of its vegetation furnishes a faithful 
picture of its true characters. 
In both Malta and Gozo exotics of extraordinary 
beauty and vigour thrive in the open ail the year 
round. During July and August there is a dearth 
of vegetation in the more elevated parts of the 
islands, owing to the very small rainfall of those 
months; but in the valleys and along the outcrops 
of the marl beds, the water-bearing stratum of the 
Islands, agriculture is carried on all the year 
round. 
Except during the prevalence of the Sirocco, 
the air of the Islands is seldom saturated with 
moisture. The greatest degree of humidity occurs 
in December, January and February, that is 
during the coldest months of the year, while the 
least extreme of humidity occurs in July, the 
hottest month. 
The absence of swamps, marshes and other 
similar natural water receptacles must influence 
the climate, too, in a minor degree, and tend to 
render the air less humid. 
The mean annual rainfall varies but slightly 
from year to year; and at no time is it excessive. 
Compared with the mean-rainfall of the countries 
bordering the north of the Mediterranean which 
averages 33 inches, that of Malta is small. Thus 
the mean average rainfall of 1886-1887 was but 
17. 6 inches, while that of 1888-1890 was 20 inch, 
and in 1889 it was as high as 26. 044. The pre- 
vious year 1888, however, it was but 13. 7 inches, 
the great difference being dee to the delay of the 
winter rains of 1888 until January 1889. 
The average rainfall of each month during the 
above period was 1. 7 inches. January, November 
and December are the wettest months of the year; 
while June and July are the dryest. 
It is an exceptional occurrence for rain to fall 
in July. The average fall for Juiy for the past 
8 years is zero. The months in which rain fall 
during the smallest number of days are May, 
June, July, and August; and during the greatest 
number of days in January and December. The 
proportion of fine days to wet ones is, however, 
very large even in the wettest season of the year. 
Thus the mean average for the last 8 years has 
been 12 days for each month. 
Estimating the total area of all of the islands as 
being 11 7,361 square miles (such was the result of the 
official survey made by Lieut Worsley It. E.), and 
the mean annual rainfall for the last eight years 
as being 19 inches, we find that the total quant- 
tity of rain that fails on the islands per year 
amounts to 32,451,700,000,000 gallons, or about 
eighty billions of gallons per day. 
Reckoning the population of the islands at 
160,000, this gives 500,000 gallons per individual 
per diem, an allowance that the thirstiest of mor- 
tals find but little cause to grumble at. 
