STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 77 



with mercury at 33 degrees, they had no peaches. He attributed this to 

 difference in tlie stage of development of the fruit buds more than 

 temperature. 



!Mr. Ellsworth saidthatit was unusual that the temperature was the 

 same at the same time in two places, the one 300 miles directly north of 

 the other. Bv referring to his memoranda of the temperature he found 

 that on the i^th of April last, the thermometer at his place (Naperville) 

 indicated 28 degrees at sunrise, 56 degi-ees at noon, at sunset 43 degrees, 

 and at 9 o'clock 34 degrees. On the morning of the 17th a slight snow, 

 with the mercury 30 degrees at sunrise; wind north; cloudy. At 

 noon, wind north, clear, and mercury at 48 degrees. 



Mr. TiCE explained that these storms which sweep over the country 

 are colder in their centers than at or near their edges. In Kansas, on 

 April 1 6th, the thermometer was 18 degrees. At Springfield, Mo., 22 

 degrees; on the 17th, at St. Louis, 28 degrees; in northern Mississippi 

 three inches of snow, and mercury 24 degrees; in Georgia, in many 

 places, 26 to 28 degrees. That storm inflicted incalculable damage 

 throughout its entire course. 



Mr. Browx — The severity of the storm was on the 17th in Southern 

 Illinois. 



Prof. Turner had observed the operations of these cold storms for 

 many years. We arc always within a few miles of polar cold, and 

 whenever and wherever these cold currents, which are constantly pass- 

 ing over our heads, dip down upon us, we feel them in proportion to the 

 abruptness or suddenness of their descent. When these cold currents 

 from different directions meet, the one is forced down upon us; hence tlie 

 change in temperature depends upon the force of these opposing cur- 

 rents. Thus, in a cold storm, we notice at one point severe cold, then in 

 a line with the storm we meet milder weather, while still farther on we 

 may find it colder again. The cold " northers " of Texas are easily traced 

 to this source. 



Dr. Spalding — On April 15th, peaches near St. Louis were in bloom. 

 There was some snow, with mercury 28 degrees. 



Mr. Daggy, of Tuscola — On April 15th we had four inches of snow, 

 which melted on the i6th. The mercury did not go below 30 degi'ees. 



President Flagg — Peaches were in bloom at Moro on the 14th of 

 April. On the r5th had sleet and snow, with the mercury at 34 degrees 

 at four P. M. April i6th, at seven P. M., the thermometer showed 32 

 degrees, and at nine P. M., 30 degrees. In the afternoon there fell two 

 inclics of snow. On the 17th the thermometer ranged 29 degi^ees to 30 

 degrees. 



Dr. Hull said the mercury was 39 degrees to 30 degrees on April 

 17th at his place (near Alton). He had noticed several degrees dill'er- 

 ence between a thermometer hanging against a building and another at 

 the same time in the open air, removed from the building. He thinks 

 that there is often a sufficient radiation of beat from buildings to affect 

 the mercury. 



