ELISHA MITCHELL SCIENTIFIC SOCIETY. 35 



amount being 6.45 inches. On September 21st there was a remark- 

 able rainfall of 511 inches. This is the heaviest on record here. 

 The nearest approach to it was on April 22nd, 1883, when 4.19 inches 

 fell. Spring was a little below the average; Summer 4 inches be- 

 low; Autumn 8 inches above; and winter about 2 inches above, 

 showing a very unusual distribution of the rainfall. The summer 

 was noted for the succession of prolonged droughts. From June 

 8th to July 11th, or 33 days, the fall was .43 inches; from July 24th 

 to August 28th, or 35 days, the fall was .22 inches; from August 30th 

 to September 20th, or 21 days, the fall was .74 inches. The August 

 rainfall was less than half the average. 



WINDS AND SKY. 



The winds were mainly from the west and southwest, the north- 

 east and northwest winds coming next on the list. As to clouds 

 the rule for the year seemed to be fair days rather than those 

 heavily clou led or entirely clear. Both the clear and cloudy days 

 were below the average in number. The autumn, winter and 

 early spring months have the greatest number of clear days. The 

 cloudless observations (clear) were 402 out of a total of 1,045. 



The barometric range was 1.6 inches — the highest in six years. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



The year as a whole shows wide variations from the average and 

 is one to be remembered. The spring was very late as the expres- 

 sion in common use goes. The first wild flowers appeared some six 

 weeks after the date on which they were usually found. Foliation 

 of forest trees began only on April 25th. This is several weeks late 

 and the bare look of the trees during the month when everything 

 is usually covered with the green spring growth was very noticeable. 

 The succession of droughts in the summer proved of course injuri- 

 ous to the crops, though fortunately they commenced too late for 

 injury to the small grain, and when the corn had already a good 

 stand and the fall rains came in time to partially save the cotton. 

 The season seemed a fair one for tobacco. The fall was a late one 

 free from heavy frosts, so that even tender plants remained unin- 

 jured in the gardens long after the usual time. The leaves remained 

 on the trees until about December 5th, and the remainder of the 

 year was open and pleasant. 



The appended table needs no further explanation. 



F. P. VENABLE. 



