THE CLIMATE OF MICHIGAN AND ITS RELATION TO AGRICUL- 

 TURE. 



Dewey A. Seeley, 



INTRODUCTION. 



The -whole realm of hmuaii activities and pursuits is affected by 

 weather conditions, but none more vitally than agriculture. The average 

 of the weather conditions makes up climate, and an accurate description 

 of the climate of any section can be used as a guide in determining the 

 suitability of that section for particular crops, provided soil conditions 

 are right for those crops. 



It is the purpose of this paper to describe the climate of the state of 

 Michigan and state its suitability to various crops. It will be necessary 

 to enquire into the factors that determine climate, at the outset, in order 

 to understand the peculiarities that will be noted in the climatic condi- 

 tions in different sections of this state. 



PART I. 



FACTORS CONTROLLING CLIMATE. 



Latitude, altitude, environmental conditions, and the location of 

 a place relative to the path of storms, each has a decided influence on 

 climate. Without going into detail with regard to each of these it will 

 be sufficient to notice that the distance north or south of the equator, 

 other things being equal, determines the temperature of a locality because 

 the sun's rays strike the earth at a greater and greater angle with in- 

 creasing latitude. In round numbers the average annual temperature 

 decreases about one degree with each 100 miles north or south of the 

 equator. 



Altitude, or height above sea level, has an effect on temperature ana- 

 logous to that of latitude. On the average the temperature decreases 

 about one degree Fahrenheit with eacli rise of 300 feet in height. As 

 a result the summits of high mountains are continually snow-capped 

 throughout the year, even in the tropics. On the other hand slight ele- 

 vations of ground which provide good air drainage are not subject to 

 the extremes of low temperature or killing frosts to the extent that low, 

 undrained areas are, because the cold air, being heavier than Avarmer 

 air, drains off from the hill-sides into the swales. Low ground is some- 

 times colder by eight or ten degrees than higher ground near b}'. 



Elevated sections usually receive more rainfall than lower areas, 

 especially on the sloi)e from which the iDrevailing winds blow, because the 



