Vol 13 - Dumfriesshire & Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian ...

38 Meteorology.
in March and again in October—was there a shght covering of it
upon the ground, which speedily thawed and disappeared. But
hail fell several times in the end of April and in September.
Thunderstorms were not numerous during the year. I
observed only five, two of which occurred in June and three in
September. The most severe was on the 6th of June, when twice
during the day—at 11 A.M. and again between 1.30 and 3.30 P.M.
—there was a thunderstorm of considerable severity. This was
the accompaniment of the break of the weather after the pro-
tracted drought and heat which preceded it.
Hygrometer.—The mean of the dry bulb thermometer for the
year was 47'8 deg. ; mean wet, 45 '3 deg. Temperature of the
dew point, 42-6. Relative humidity (saturation being equal to
100), 83. May had the lowest relative humidity, viz., 68 ; April
had 74, and June 75. The other monthly values rang-ed from 75
to 91. The relative humidity of 83 is about the average of the
last ten years.
Wind.—With regard to the wind directions of the year, the
westerly prevailed most out of the eight points reckoned in the
report. But northerly and easterly winds were more than usually
frequent. Grouping the N., N.E., E., and N,.W. together, the
number of days ni which they prevailed was 168 ; while the S.,
S.E., S.W., and W. claimed 178 ; and calm or variable was 18.
The mean force, however, as might have been expected from the
more than average height of the barometer, was decidedly imder
the mean.
Mr J. S. Thomson, jeweller, proposed a vote of thanks to Mr
Andson for his valuable report. In doing so he suggested that
the society should take steps to get the gauge for indicating- the
height of the river replaced at the New Bridge, it having been
carried away at the break-up of the ice in 1895.—Mr James
Lennox seconded the vote of thanks.— Mr Rutherford of Jarding-
ton suggested that the gauge should be painted on the bridg-e
itself.
Dr Maxwell Ross, medical officer for the county, said he
always followed with interest the observations of Mr Andson as
they were recorded in the Standard from time to time, and he
found them very helpful, because there was a relation between the
state of the weather and the recurrence of certain diseases. This
had been laid down in the classical observations of Mr Buchan and
Sir Arthur Mitchell, who, taking the Registrar-General's returns