If we turn to the map here given we notice that, speaking generally, the rainfall of England decreases steadily as we pass from west to east. The moisture-laden clouds, driven by the prevalent winds across the Atlantic, precipitate their contents on reaching the land, more especially if the land be high, and in consequence the country beyond is less wet. Hertfordshire occupies a middle position between the heavy averages of Wales and S.W. England and the minimum of Essex and the neighbourhood of the Wash, as we should expect. The difference between the average of the various stations in our country is remarkable. In the year 1905, which is taken throughout as the basis of comparison, the highest rainfall in England and Wales occurred at Glas Lyn, near Snowdon, and was no less than 176·6 inches; whereas the lowest was registered at Shoeburyness, in Essex, this being only 14·57 inches; while the average rainfall for Great Britain was 27·17 inches. In Hertfordshire, as we shall see, the average in that year for the whole county was 23·47 inches, but this is 1·5 inches below the general average for a series of years, which is 24·52 inches. In the same year the average for the four chief observing stations in the county was, however, 24·22 inches, with a maximum of 25·88 inches at New Barnet and a minimum of 22·51 inches at Bennington. These extremes were exceeded by a maximum of 28·29 inches at Pendley Manor, Tring, and a minimum of 19·31 inches (or rather more than 5 inches above the Essex minimum) at Hillside, Buntingford. [Illustration: ENGLAND & WALES ANNUAL RAINFALL GEORGE PHILIP & SON LTD. (_The figures show the annual rainfall in inches._)] For a succession of years it has, however, been observed that the rainfall of Hertfordshire is in excess of that of all the adjacent counties to the west and south. This is shown by the following comparative average rainfalls for 1905; viz.: Bedfordshire (23 stations), 20·47 ins.; Buckinghamshire (32 stations), 22·06 ins.; Middlesex, exclusive of London (49 stations), 22·26 ins.; and Hertfordshire (51 stations), 23·47 ins. Of the 104 stations exclusive of Hertfordshire, the combined mean rainfall is 21·6 inches; Hertfordshire thus showing an excess over the average rainfall in the adjoining counties of nearly two inches in actual amount. As a whole, and in spite of the excess over its neighbour in the matter of rainfall, Hertford may be reckoned among the relatively dry counties; its average in 1905 being nearly four inches below that for England generally in the same year.