METEOROLOGICAL ABSTRACT FOR THE 



YEAR 1877. 



THE WEATHER AXD THE CHOPS. 



The year 1877 has been exceedingly favorable to the farmer and fruit-grower. 

 The temperature of the year, as a whole, has been mild and equable. 

 During the winter months the temperature did not sink so low as to damage 

 fruit trees to any extent, nor were there any sudden and great variations in 

 temperature, — so injurious to fruit. The total rain-fall was far above the aver- 

 age in quantity, and so evenly distributed during the season of growth that uo 

 crop suffered greatly for want of water. 



Among farmers the year will be remembered as Michigan's great wheat year. 

 This is largely owing to the fact that, during the season of growth, the wheat 

 was not checked by drouth, the rain-fall being abundant, and the temperature 

 was very favorable. During wheat harvest almost no rain fell in any part of 

 the State, and wheat was harvested generally without being injured by the 

 weather. Whether a year shall be a year of plenty or scarcity, seems to be 

 owing to that combination of climatic conditions which we call the weather. 

 It is almost an axiom in agricultural operations that the weather makes the 

 crops. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 



I am under great obligations to Dr. 11. B. Baker, Secretary of the State 

 Board of Ilealtli, who has allowed me to use the meteorological records, kept 

 by observers in different parts of the State who have reported to the State Board 

 of Health. By this means, I am enabled to compile tables showing the general 

 character of the season, so far as temperature and rain-fall are concerned. 



The following are the names and addresses of persons who have reported to 

 the State Board of Health, whose meteorological records have been used in 

 preparing tables : 



C. Henri Leonard, M. D., Detroit; F. W. Higgins, "Woodmere Cemetery,, 

 near Detroit; L. P. Alden, State Public School, Ooldwater; J. H. Kellogg, 

 M. D., Battle Creek ; Prof. L. McLouth, State Normal School, Ypsilanti ; E. 

 H. Van Deusen, M. D., State Asylum for Insane, Kalamazoo; E. Hause, M. 

 D., and H. Peters, M. D., Tecumseh ; John Bell, M. D,, Benton Harbor; Lee 

 S. Cobb, Nirvana, Lake county; 11. T. Calkins, M. D., Fyfe Lake, Grand 

 Traverse county; E. Stewart, M. D., Mendon, St. Joseph county; J. S. 

 Caulkins, M. D., Thornville, Lapeer county; Prof. K. C. Kedzie, Agricultural 

 College, Lansing. 



