228 
J. H0PKINS0N-EEPOET ON THE 
at one station. A careful examination of the returns from the 
stations recording this drought, and a comparison with the returns 
from neighbouring stations, lead to the inference that small falls 
of rain (one or more) may have escaped notice, there haying possibly 
been no actual “absolute” drought. 
Distribution of the Rainfall throughout the Year. —Of the total 
rainfall of 20*12 inches, 7*86 fell during the six winter months 
and 12*26 during the six summer months. During the first 
quarter of the year 3*31 ins. fell, during the second quarter 
5*95 ins., during the third quarter 6*31 ins., and during the fourth 
quarter 4*55 ins. During the Winter of 1901-2 (Dec. to Feb.) 
5*56 ins. fell, during the Spring (March to May) 4*42 ins., during 
the Summer (June to August) 8*05 ins., and during the Autumn 
(Sept, to Nov.) 4*40 ins. In relation to the average, January and 
October were very dry months; April, July, September, and 
November were dry; February and December were rather dry; 
and June and August were wet, having together nearly one-third 
of the year’s fall. 
The difference in each month from the mean for the 60 years 
1840-99 was as follows:—Jan., — 1*51 in. ; Feb., — 0*47; 
March, —0*13; April, — 0*93; May, + 0*18; June, +0*90; 
July, — 1*01; August, + 1*19; Sept.,— 1*14; Oct., — 1*44; 
Nov., — 0*89 ; and Dec., — 0*68. 
The absolute maximum falls in any one day in each month, and 
the stations recording them, were—Jan. 1, London Orphan Asylum 
and Frogmore, Watford, 0*30 in. ; Feb. 24, Great Gaddesden, 
0*43 in.; March 14, Moor Park, Bickmansworth, 0*78 in.; April 5, 
Moor Park, 0*34 in.; May 30, Much Hadham, 1*11 in. ; June 13, 
London Orphan Asylum, Watford, 1*09 in.; July 1, Hamels Park, 
Buntingford, 1*64 in.; August 6, Odsey, 1*33 in.; Sept. 11, High 
Down, Hitchin, 2*21 ins. ; Oct. 17, Gorhambury Park, St. Albans, 
0*58 in. ; Nov. 29, Bose Cottage, Berkhamsted, 0*49 in.; Dec. 14, 
Wigginton, and Dec. 17, Moor Park, 0*40 in. 
The day in each month on which a heavy fall of rain was most 
general over the county was—Jan. 1 (nearly equalled by the 4th 
and 26th), Feb. 24, March 14, April 5, May 22, June 13, July 1, 
August 10, Sept. 11, Oct. 17, Nov. 29, Dec. 17 ; and in the year 
March 14, nearly equalled by Feb. 24 and Oct. 17. 
The first half of the year had the same number of days of rain 
as the second half, namely 81. There were 32 in the first quarter 
of the year, 49 in the second, 37 in the third, and 44 in the fourth. 
During the Winter of 1901-2 there were 35 wet days, during the 
Spring 45, during the Summer 45, and during the Autumn 39. 
The average number of wet days in each month was as follows :— 
Jan., 9; Feb., 11; March, 12; April, 11; May, 22; June, 16; 
July, 10; August, 19; Sept., 8; Oct., 17 ; Nov., 14; Dec., 13. 
The deviation from the mean for the 30 years 1870-99 was— 
Jan., — 6 ; Feb., — 2 ; March, — 1; April, — 2 ; May, + 10 ; 
June, + 4 ; July, — 4 ; August, + 5 ; Sept., —■ 5 ; Oct., + 1 ; 
Nov., — 2; Dec., — 3. 
