Page:Item 7 1858.pdf/188

From Historical Hastings
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covered as they were with houses, trees and other obstructions. The same remark would apply with greater force to easterly winds, the largest and most wooded slopes lying in that direction. The greater density of air at a low level would make the wind there appear stronger than on a high level even when moving at the same velocity. During the first twelve months the total estimated force was 820, - 356 of which was from cold quarters and 464 from warm quarters. During the same period, there were 63 calm days. In the second twelve months the total estimated force was 761; 267 being from cold quarters and 494 from warm quarters. In that year there were 73 calm days. The mean daily force of wind in 1857-8 was 1.12 and in 1858-9 it was 1.04 . . . Undoubtedly the two years that he had under review had been unusually fine; but as the fine weather had been common to the whole district, any comparison between the climate of Hastings and Fairlight was not vitiated by the fact that the weather had been so fine. It was sufficiently evident that Fairlight had a much lower temperature than Hastings, and that it had less wind and no more cloud; it also had a much larger amount of ozone; and speaking from his own personal experience, he could testify that its air, although it contained more humidity than that of Hastings, was both healthy and bracing. To anyone for whom Hastings might be too warm or relaxing, no better prescription could be given than a change of residence to the hills which Providence had kindly places so near, and where a climate might be found resembling that of York or Scarborough. In concluding that part of his subject, Mr. Rock expressed his indebtedness to Mr. Banks, who had placed the whole of his observations at his service, and also to Mr. J. C. Savery for the use of some of his deductions from Mr. Banks's statistics. He then entered freely into the state and progress of vegetation at Fairlight during the period over which his observations extended. He noticed the principal phenomena that occurred with regard to both vegetable and animal life during that period, an remarked that in the observance of those phenomena as well as those which might be more strictly termed meteorological, there was very much to interest and amuse; they furnished an unfailing source of pleasing occupation, and when followed systematically and their results published or communicated to other students of nature, there was the additional satisfaction of knowing that something had been contributed to the better understanding of the material circumstances by which man was surrounded, and of the power and wisdom of Him by whom both he and they had been created.