52 JOURNAL OF THE 



moDths, taking a rise and fall of 2 inches as a wave or total wave, 

 length 4 inches. March is seen to be the month of greatest change, 

 and the six months, November — April show a much more variable 

 barometer than the remaining six. 



WINDS AND SKY. 



Our winds are mainly from the west. Out of 5,192 observations, 

 1088 were west. Of south winds there are only 320 observations, 

 the least frequent of all the winds. In January and August easterly 

 or northerly winds prevail, in February southwesterly. The remain, 

 ing months are variable. Our storms usually come from the north- 

 west, summer and spring rains from southwest, and winter rains 

 from northeast, westerly winds bringing clear weather. Set rules, 

 however, cannot be laid down from this short series of observations. 



Observations of the cloudiness give an average per year of 67 clear 

 days, 78 cloudy, and 220 fair. The term fair is used for partial 

 cloudiness. The average of clear and cloudy days during autumn 

 months is very low (about 3 of each). In winter the number of 

 clear and cloudy days rises to over half the total number in the 

 month. In the table the term rainy days is used for days on which 

 .01 inches or more of rain -fell. 



GENERAL REMARKS. 



The year 1881 was noted as a most disastrous one to farmers in 

 this section. An unusually cold and dry winter was followed by a 

 very hot summer, with a rain-fall 4.83 inches under the average. 

 The total rain-fall was 7.14 inches below the average. In 1882, the 

 crops, especially those of small grain, were remarkably fine, no one 

 recalling such yield per acre of wheat and oats. A warm and wet 

 spring was followed by a temperate summer, with plenty of rain. 

 The maximum temperature was 94*^. The average of atmospheric 

 saturation was high. 



The drought in the fall of 1884 was the most noteworthy meteor- 

 ological fact of that year. It was the longest on record, lasting 

 from September 17th, when .02 inches rain fell, to October 22d, when 

 .80 inches fell, or 35 days without a drop of rain. So far as the 

 effects of the drought were concerned, the preceding 18 days might 

 also be counted in, as only one rain of .50 inches came in that time. 

 The ground became excessively dry during this time, and the dust 

 will be long remembered by all in attendance upon the State Expo- 

 sition at Raleigh. The days from September 29th to October 7th 



