REPORT OF THE 
xii 
series. But additional space might well be devoted to the 
exhibition of subsidiary collections— e.g., building stones, 
decorative stones, metallic ores, &c. 
Meteorology. —1898 on the whole compares unfavourably 
with 1897. 
Temperature was i‘2° higher than in 1897, a result due 
to a greater uniformity than in the previous year, the cold 
of the spring months being less intense. May, June, and 
July were much below 1897, and deficient in sunshine and 
heat. There has been no long frost during the year, but 
the cold winds of spring were especially harmful to vegeta¬ 
tion. The lowest temperature was recorded on February 
21st and 25th, when 24'9° F. was registered, and the 
highest 84*0° F. on September 17: h. The temperature of 
8o° F. was reached in August and September, during 
which months prevalent fine weather gave ample oppor¬ 
tunity for the ingathering of a fine harvest. The last 
quarter of the year has maintained a higher temperature 
than the average, and an unusual number of fruits out of 
season have been reported on all sides. 
A Mean Pressure of 29*945 has been recorded, as against 
29*933 for 1897, November and May being lowest (29*820 
and 29*833 respectively), and January highest (30*223 inches). 
The extreme range of pressure is only 1*782, as against 
2*233 inches in 1897. 
Bright Sunshine has been much rarer in 1898 than in 
1897. The total of hours (1212) being 252 below the total 
of 1897 (1464 hours). April, May, July, August, and Sep¬ 
tember all fell below the same months in 1897, and in only 
one case, July, did the total reach 200 hours as against 
three months, May, July, and August of the previous year. 
April and May lacked the sunny weather usually associated 
with them, May being 22°/ 0 behind 1897, and April 11%. 
Rain or Snow (0*005 inches or over) fell on 184 days, 10 
above the average. The total fall of 23*730 inches was 
below that of 1897 (24*4 inches). The heaviest fall was 
on July 22nd, when 1*580 inches fell. Thunder was heard 
