THE SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION. 197 



During October, indications of the setting in of the rainy season, 

 were developed. Although the quantity of rain that actually fell was 

 small, still the proportion of moisture in the atmosphere was large for 

 this locality and season — the-dew point having been generally only 8 or 

 10° below the temperature of the air ; whereas during the preceding 

 summer months the freedom from watery vapor, as measured by the 

 thermometers of the psych rometer, ranged from 20° to 30°. 



Our record for November shows the most agreeable weather, the 

 genial etTects of which were manifested in the verdure of the fields and 

 fruitfulness of the gardens. In the neighborhood of the city, straw- 

 berries ripened on flourishing plants, and green peas were in such a 

 state of forwardness as to justify the expectation of their being ready 

 for market at Christmas. 



December, another rainy month, passed away without much pros- 

 pect of our getting the usual semi-annual allowance of rain. From 

 the 4th to the 9th the fogs were so dense during the earlier part of 

 the day as to measure in the aggregate 0.07 inch by the rain-gage. 

 The first killing frost of the season occurred on the 9th. The sun 

 entered Capricornus during fine and clear weather. The year closed 

 with a strong gale and rain from southeast, which measured 0.60 

 inch; the barometer reading 29.78 inches, and the thermometer 

 54°. 



REMARKS FOR 1855. 



The new year was ushered in with a violent rain-storm, veering 

 from southeast to southwest. The barometer at sunrise stood at 

 29.38 inches, and the thermometer at 51°. The quantity of rain tliat 

 fell before 8 p. m., measured 1.12 inches. By the next morning the 

 weather was clear, with the wind fresh from north ; the temperature 

 at freezing-point, and barometer at 30 inches. After this, only a 

 little rain fell occasionally ; but from the 10th to the 20th, the 

 densest fogs and mists prevailed continuously, measuring in the ag- 

 gregate, by the rain-gage, 0.16 inch. Sometimes the ascending 

 current would for an hour or two, during the warmest part of the 

 day, carry oif the vapor with it ; but the wind, which was for the 

 most part warm, and from southeast, was too light to prevent the 

 re-precipitation of the excess of moisture in the air. On the 5th and 

 14th there was a slight fall of snow, which unusual phenomenon 

 was also witnessed two winters ago, at Brighton, about four miles to 

 the eastward. The month closed with pleasant weather, and the 

 verdure of the plains presented indications of an early spring. 



February was characterized by the variable meteorological phe- 

 nomena usually attendant upon the breaking up of winter and the 

 opening of spring. During the first half of the month the weather 

 was generally pleasant and genial. On the 1st, the cowslip was ob- 

 served in profuse blossom all over the surrounding plains ; also, on 

 the 15th, the wild violet ; on the 20th, the peach tree, and on the 

 23d, the pond willow, (Salix nigra,) and the nemophilla, a small 

 indigenous blue flower. At daylight on the 24th, the thermometer 

 fell suddenly to the freezing-point at Sutter's Fort, the wind being 



