Ixxviii 



Of more practical interest is the appearance of the first frost in October. 

 I record the first frost when the temperature of the air falls in the city to or 

 below the freezing-point of water. White frost often appears with a higher 

 temperature, saj 34° or even 35° ; and in the country, outside the limit of 

 houses and smoke, a killing frost may appear much earlier than in town. 

 Of that I have no reliable records. But here, within the city, no injury by 

 frost has been done in the last October, and none to this day (Nov. 6), as 

 anybody can satisfy himself by examining such tender plants as the castor 

 bean, the tomato-vine, or the common bean, none of which are touched as 

 yet. The lowest temperature last October was 39°. 5, on the 20th. Since 

 then the temperature has often been over 50°. 



I find that in the last forty-seven years we have had no frost in October 

 in twelve years. The warmest Octobers were those of 1852, when the low- 

 est in October was 42°, and 1881, last year, when the lowest was 41°. In 

 the first of these years the first frost occurred on Nov. 9th, and in the other 

 not sooner than Nov. 15th. No frost has ever been observed by me in 

 September. The eai-liest frosts of the season were recorded on October 

 4th, 1836, 31°; on October 7th, 1868, and October nth, 1871, both 3i°.5. 

 After October nth frost has set in in many years. The lowest tempera- 

 ture ever observed by me in October was 21°. g, Oct. 31, 1863. 



And now you will want to know what the prospects are for the coming 

 winter. You must ask those who were able to predict, six months ago, a 

 cool summer for the Mississippi valley, and a hot and dry one for the At- 

 lantic States; or who announced a mild winter last year, or a very cold 

 one two years ago. I did not and cannot. 



Mr. A. Leonard showed the electrolytic deposition of iron and 

 nickel in metallic form by Klassen's method. 



Dr. Engelmann presented specimens of the fruit of the Cactus 

 triangularis, from Shaw's garden, and made some remarks on 

 the peculiarities of the plants. 



The Secretary presented a paper from G. C. Broadhead on the 

 "Carboniferous Rocks of Eastern Kansas," which was referred to 

 the Publication Committee. 



JSovember 20, 1882. 



Dr. Geo. Engelmann, President, in the chair. Ten members 

 present. 



Mr. Nipher made a few remarks on earth currents and the 

 method of determining their direction. 



Wm. J. Sheafer was elected to associate membership. 



