New York Weather Bureau. 17 



ditions, another class of atmospheric movements obtain, the ocean 

 being the source of cloud formation ; and there are also additional 

 local variations and developments in the general cloud-drift which 

 have an important climatic value. 



Thunder storms have been studied and their frequency and 

 characteristic manner of progression in the various regions are 

 now known with a fair degree of accuracy. The study of these 

 storms perhaps bears most practically upon the distribution of 

 rainfall, since, fortunately, this State has so far been quite free 

 from disastrous local storms, or tornadoes. It is desirable, how- 

 ever, to amplify the study of thunder storms on account of their 

 direct effect upon many industries, especially the preservation of 



milk, and in the complex operations of brewing. 



,,) 

 KESUME OF THE CROP SEASON, 1895-1896. 



A noticeable feature of the winter of 1895-'96 was the warm 

 period during the latter part of December. Considerable plow- 

 ing was done during Christmas week; winter grains made vis- 

 ible growth, and buds started on the trees. On the other hand, 

 March was particularly a cool and stormy month; more snow 

 falling in the southeastern counties during the latter portion of 

 March than during the preceding winter. Wheat, rye, grasses, 

 and at the beginning, fruit also, seemed to have passed through 

 the winter in good condition, but in the southeast it was thought 

 that peaches were winter-killed. The results of the season dem- 

 onstrated that this was true, not only of peaches in the south- 

 east, but of peaches and small fruit-trees generally in other por- 

 tions of the state. Apples and berries, however, yielded finely, 

 and grapes developed well. 



The crop season opened about the 12th of April, prior to which 

 2 



