New York Weather Bureau. 103 



peaches in bloom on the 25th; pears in bloom on the 30th. 

 Cooperstown, since 1854, only 1870, 1878 and 1886 have given as 

 high mean temperature for April, and 1863, 1866, 1872 and 1884 

 less rainfall. Honeymead Brook, maximum temperature (87 de- 

 grees) for April in 16 years. New York city, maximum temper- 

 ature (90 degrees) for April, dating from beginning of record in 

 1871. On the 18th ice went out of Lake Champlain and naviga- 

 tion opened on the 20th. 



The crop season opened about the 12th of the month. Prior to 

 this date the weather was cold, and snow still on the ground in 

 the more northern counties. At the beginning the season was 

 considered about ten days late. The unusually warm and spring- 

 like weather, beginning on the 12th and extending to the 21st, 

 brought the frost out of the ground, dried the soil and rapidly 

 fitted it for working. Throughout the warmer sections farming 

 operations were general by the loth. Plowing and seeding had 

 become general by the 20th; vegetation had started rapidly, 

 trees were budding, Madison county hops were being uncovered, 

 and in the southeast early gardens were made. Dry, cool 

 weather followed, with frosts on the 23d and 24th, which formed 

 ice in exposed places, but did little or no damage to vegetation. 

 But light rains had occurred throughout the month and while 

 crops in the ground were beginning to feel the lack of moisture, 

 the absence of rain permitted spring work to be rushed, and at 

 the close of the month most of the oats, spring wheat and barley 

 had been sown, and many had planted early potatoes. Garden- 

 ing had progressed satisfactorily, and in the southeast early veg- 

 etables were already up. Sugaring began early in the month, 

 but progressed slowly until the warm period, — the crop was prac- 

 tically gathered by the 25th. 



