jgSo.' cind Weather Prophecies. 75 1 
the season was persistent cold brought by southerly and 
south-westerly winds. Whether there may have been a 
polar upper current which chilled the atmosphere, and pre- 
cipitated the moisture held in suspension by the equatorial 
current, we are unable to state. 
Latterly a totally different theory has been brought for- 
ward by Mr. R. G. Jenkins, F.R.A.S., which leaves the 
sun-spots and their periodicity out of the question. It has 
been proved by the Astronomer Royal that the planet Venus 
exerts a disturbing effedt upon the earth, so as materially to 
interfere with its orbit. This action appears to follow a 
cycle of eight years, and in it Mr. Jenkins seeks for an 
explanation of the waves of cold which he considers occur 
on an average every eight years. Another consequence of 
this hypothesis, if corredt, is that for the next forty years 
the temperature will fall below the average, whilst during 
the past forty years it has been in excess. 
Mr. Jenkins concludes, further, that every twelve years a 
wave of unusual heat sweeps over the earth nearly con- 
temporary with the arrival of the planet Jupiter in 
perihelion, and that we are on the eve of such a great 
heat-wave. . 
We will endeavour to trace in how far these views are in 
harmony with past experience. To find an unquestionable 
starting-point for the series of warm years we can do no 
better than take a season still fresh in the memory of all 
the middle-aged portion of the public — the glorious year 
1868, characterised by its July harvest. Taking twelve- 
year intervals for the last sixty years we should have the 
following succession : — 1820, 1832, 1844, 1868, and 
1880. How does this series agree with fadts ? As far as 
we have been able to trace out, the years marked by 
exceptional warmth were 1818, 1825,— both of which 
brought July harvests, — 1854, 1857, 1858, 1868, 1869, and 
1870. Whether there was any unusual heat in 1844 we 
cannot ascertain. As we pointed out in the article aoove 
referred to the summer of 1857 was beautifully dry and 
warm and was followed by a winter free from snow and 
ice, save a short attack in February, 1858. The succeeding 
summer was at least equal to that of 1857? an d the only 
frost in the ensuing winter was from November 12th to 17th# 
After this open weather continued. This long continuance 
of favourable weather is not separated from the next warm 
year by a twelve years’ interval. . n . 
The season of 1868, again, was immediately followed by 
two other years somewhat inferior, but still very much 
VOL. 11. (third series.) 3 B 
