1445. The study of the weather from precedent, affords useful hints as to the character of approaching seasons. From observing the general character of seasons for a long period, certain general results may be deduced. On this principle, Kirwan, on comparing a number of observations taken in England from 1677 (Trans. Irish Acad.) to 1789, a period of 112 years, found: - That when there has been no storm before or after the vernal equinox, the ensuing summer is generally dry, at least five times in six. That when a storm happens from an easterly point, either on the 19th, 20th, or 21st of May, the succeeding summer is generally dry, at least four times in five. That when a storm arises on the 25th, 26th, or 27th of March, and not before, in any point, the succeeding summer is generally dry, four times in five. If there be a storm at S. W. or W. S.W., on the 19th, 20th, 21st, or 22d of March, the succeeding summer is generally wet, five times in six. In this country, winters and springs, if dry, are most commonly cold; if moist, warm: on the contrary, dry summers and autumns are usually hot, and moist summers cold; so that, if we know the moistness or dryness of a season, we can form a tolerably accurate judgment of its temperature. In this country, also, it generally rains less in March than in November, in the proportion, at a medium, of seven to twelve. It generally rains less in April than October, in the proportion of one to two, nearly at a medium. It generally rains less in May than September: the chances that it does so are at least four to three; but, when it rains plentifully in May, as 1.8 inches or more, it generally rains but little in September; and when it rains one inch, or less, in May, it rains plentifully in September.
