Suminary of Crop Conditions, 1897. 



November 1, 1897. 



The temperature from October, 1896, to March, 1897, inclusive, 

 averaged about 0.7 degree above the normal; the average de- 

 ficiency of rain and snow for the same period was about 0.4 inch. 

 The winter temperature was about normal, December being colder, 

 while January and February were slightly warmer. It is worthy 

 of note that everv month from October to Februarv, inclusive, 

 was deficient in, precipitation. November, 1896, was very 

 warm, averaging nearly 5 degrees above the normal. Plowing 

 was carried on, even in the extreme north, up to the 28th of No- 

 vember, and in southern sections violets and lilacs were budding 

 near the close of the month. Some plowing was done during 

 January also. While the ground was often free from snow dur- 

 ing the winter, yet protection to crops was afforded at opportune 

 times and grasses and grains generally wintered well — the excep- 

 tion being an eastern and southeastern sections, where it was 

 thought some fields were partially winter killed. 



On the first of March a hard freeze was reported as having 

 killed many peach buds in Erie county and vicinity, but the results 

 of the season did not bear out this statement. The succeeding 

 twenty days averaged the warmest on record. This was followed 

 by a period of cold north winds and frosty nights, with bright 

 sunny days. As the fields were bare of snow the alternate freez- 

 ing and thawing caused some slight damage to fields and meadows 

 from heaving. Excepting in the extreme north the frost was all 

 out by the close of March, and spring plowing had begun in the 

 warmer localities of the south. 



