34 
J. HOPKINSON-REPORT ON THE 
The mean number of wet days in the year was 177, being 10 more 
than the average for the thirty years 1870-99, and 29 more than 
that for the previous year. The prevailing impression that rain 
fell very frequently hut seldom to any large amount is thus fully 
borne out. In the Winter months, both at the beginning and the end 
of the year, the rain was not only frequent hut also considerable, 
without any very heavy falls. Thus it was peculiarly favourable 
for replenishing our underground supply of water. 
Droughts in 1900.—Droughts—“ absolute ” of more than 14 days’ 
duration, or “partial” of more than 28 days with an average of 
less than 0-01 inch of rain per diem—occurred in April-May, 
July, and Sept.-Oct. The first absolute drought was in July, at 
13 stations, and lasted for 15 days, July 6-20, at one station; for 
16 days, July 4-19, at one station; for 17 days, July 4-20, at one 
station; for 19 days, July 8-26, at one station ; for 20 days, July 
7-26, at seven stations; and for 23 days, July 4-26, at two stations. 
The second absolute drought was in September, at 10 stations, and 
lasted for 16 days, Sept. 8-23, at four stations, and for 22 days, 
Sept. 2-23, at six stations. The first partial drought was in 
April-May, at one station only (Datchworth Kectory), where 
0*29 in. fell in the 30 days April 6 to May 5. The second partial 
drought was in Sept.-Oct., also at one station only (Odsey), where 
0*32 in. fell in the 33 days Sept. 1 to Oct. 3. It is very rarely 
that a partial drought is so very close upon non-existence as these 
were, for neither would have been to record if 0-01 inch more of 
rain had fallen in each case. 
Distribution of the Rainfall throughout the Year. —Of the total 
rainfall of 25-95 inches, 8*35 inches fell during the first quarter of 
the year, 4‘93 inches during the second, 5’08 inches during the third, 
and 7-59 inches during the fourth. During the Winter of 1899-1900 
(Dec. to Deb.) 9-07 inches fell, during the Spring of 1900 (March 
to May) 3*10 inches, during the Summer (June to Aug.) 7‘02 inches, 
and during the Autumn (Sept, to Nov.) 5-28 inches. March and 
September were very dry months ; April, May, and July were 
rather dry; June, October, and November were rather wet, the 
two latter months, which have a high average, being, however, 
drier than usual; January, August, and December were very wet; 
and February was excessively wet. The five dry months averaged 
one inch each, the seven wet months three inches each, and four 
of these three and a half inches each. 
The difference in each month from the mean for the 60 years 
1840-99 was as follows:—Jan., -|- 106 in. ; Feb., -f 2-64; 
March, — 0'87; April, — 0'53; May, — 0 90 ; June, + 0-56 ; 
July, — 1*21; August, + 0-70; Sept., — D68; Oct., — 0*70; 
Nov., — 0T8; Dec., + 0*94. 
The absolute maximum falls in any one day in each month, and 
the stations recording them, were—Jan. 6, Apsley Mills, Hemel 
Hempstead, 1*27 in.; Feh. 13, Pendley Manor, Tring, D80 in.; 
March 18, New Barnet, 0*35 in. ; April 5, Much Hadham, 0*63 in. ; 
May 24, Great Gaddesden, 0*50 in.; June 12, Apsley Mills, 0-74 in.; 
