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8
dry months from June to November, the only partial exception being
September, for which the rainfall over England and Wales as a whole was
just about the average.
The rainfall total for the year at Eothamsted was 35.39 inches,
6.77 inches above the average and the highest since 1927. Eleven months
were deficient in sunshine, November being the only exception. The
sunshine total is 14.7 hours below that of last year and 279.3 hours below
the average.
The average temperature for the year was slightly above normal.
December was the coldest month, with a mean temperature of 35.9 deg.,
F., 2.7 deg. F. below normal. Of the other months, March was also cold,
while the relatively warm months were January, February and August.
There were, however, no exceptionally hot days, and despite the rigours
of December, no unusually severe night frosts, the lowest screen
temperature at Eothamsted being 18.1 deg. F. on 20th December.
The year was a much better one for the holiday-maker than it appears
to be on paper. The dry summer was very favourable to outdoor activities,
and with the continuance of mild, dry weather in autumn, one did not feel
that winter had come until the snows arrived early in December.
Births.
The births registered in Westminster during 1937 (52 weeks) numbered
1,460, but of these the homes of 952 were in other districts, and have
therefore to be deducted from the total. There were, however, 513
children belonging to Westminster parents born in institutions outside
the City, and these must be added. This gives a net total of 1,021, which
is 42 less than the corresponding figure for 1936. The Birth Bate for
the City was 8.2, for London 13.3 and for England and Wales 14.9.
The comparative net totals of the registered births for the last three
years are:—