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Field Columihan Museum — Botany, Vol. I. 



frost. Contrary to the statement of Baron Eggers,* Mr. Ricksecker 

 states that the air is very humid, and heavy dews are so common that 

 it was not considered safe to sit out of doors in the evening. Any 

 article of iron left exposed, even for a short time, gathers rust rapidly. 

 The average temperature is about 8i° F., the range of monthly aver- 

 ages being from 78° F. (February) to 84° F. (September). The 

 lowest and highest temperatures in the shade were 65^ and 96° F., 

 respectively, though in the sun it has been known to go so high as 

 124°. The effect of this heat is greatly modified by the trade winds 

 which blow steadily from October to June; the rest of the year the 

 winds are fitful and the heat becomes nearly unbearable. The rain- 

 fall is variably periodical; the yearly average for a number of years 

 (1852-1889) was 46.22 inches; the lowest annual average was 29.6 

 inches, and the highest 67.6 inches. The monthly averages for the 

 same period were as follows: 



extending from May through November, and a comparatively dry- 

 season from December to April, inclusive. Thus the rain}' period 

 occurs when the trade winds become irregular. The west half of the 

 island receives the greater amount of rain and there are other local 

 differences. There are also great irregularities in the monthly 

 averages for different years; for example, one year February had .19 

 inch and another year 3.75 inches; May had one year only .47 

 inch and another year 16.84 inches. From January to July the 

 cane crop is harvested, and as fast as removed replanting is done, so 

 that the young cane receives plenty of rain when most needed. Rains 

 come up out of a clear sky, on very short notice, and often pass 

 away in five or ten minutes, after a tremendous downpour. Some- 

 times, of course, they may be several hours in duration, in which 

 case the guts become roaring torrents of muddy water effectually 

 blocking travel, as there are scarcely any bridges. During seasons 

 of protracted rains the atmosphere becomes chilly, although the 

 thermometer may show a temperature of nearly 80°. In such 

 seasons certain plants will bloom and produce fruit. This is notice- 



* Flora of St. Croix and the Virgin Islands, page 4. 



