57 
since when it has worked up to the Eighties with 190 0 days 
The excess of days with rain since 1871, is remarkable. Before 
then no year had 200 siicli. From 1872 on this has occurred 
six times. 1841—70 gives an average of 158*4 days; 1871 — 
90 of 189*1 days, or an excess of a full month. 
The Relation of Rain and Sun-spot Cycles,* referred to above, 
shows no decided annual variation A trial of the curves 
pro.dnced by “ Bloxamizing ” the annual falls for .2, 8, 4, and 5 
years showed, as expected, that three-year curves were most 
indicative. By this we find, for the whole year, a slight 
tendency to most rain in times of maxima at the solar maxima 
in 1848, ’60, and ’71 ; but less in ’84, when the maximum of 
spots fell much short of the others. No so close agreement 
appears with minimum values. By selecting 16 years, in sets 
of four, at times of the four maxima of solar energy, and 16 in 
threes and a four at times of the five minima,t we find that the 
former give a total of 422 58 inches, and the latter, 885*65. This 
is an excess of 36*93 inches, or 94 per cent, for the year. 
Considering the great fluctuations in Bainfall, we must not make 
too much of this. Examining the four wettest months in the 
same way, we find an excess of two per cent, at times of minima 
for July, and of 61 per cent. (19*73 inches) for August. 
But September and October show excesses of 38 and 44 per 
cent., respectively, when sun-spots are at their maximum. 
Thus, we can hardly doubt, upon the evidence of the selected 
32 years, that Augusts are much better when the spots are 
fewest, and September and October the reverse. In other 
words, our maximum Summer Rainfall coincides with minima 
of solar activity and our Autumn Rainfall with maxima. 
Hence, for York, solar activity and good harvests are associated, 
if the latter be not later than the average. 
Until we can rediscover the original records, given to the 
Y.P.S by Mr. John Ford, about 1874, we are unable to say 
what has been the maximum fall in 24 hours, as this does not 
appear in the tables before 1875. 
* A compaiison of the various curves of solar energies from 187;-! to 1888, shows 
that they run so like each, other that a single one, as that of Sun-spots, may be 
taken to stand for all. 
t The selection of fours or threes, while mainly done for more » onvenient 
comparison, is justified by the max. or min., in the former coming bttwten tv o 
years, in the latter at the middle of a year. 
Rainfall and 
Sunspots. 
Annual results 
indefinite- 
The wettest 
months, Jul}‘ un¬ 
certain, August 
wettest at min¬ 
ima. 
.September and 
October at max¬ 
ima. 
Result on 
harx'ests. 
No returns as 
to max. fall in 
24 hours before 
1875- 
