596 Forestry Quarterly 



years in the order of their excellence as to precipitation compared 

 to the number of fires are as follows : 



Year Best rating as to fires 



No. 1 1911 39 fires No. 4 



No. 2 1914 65 " No. 3 



No. 3 1915 30 " No. 1 



No. 4 1912 23 " No. 2 



No. 5 1913 101 " No. 5 



The only year that acted consistently is 1913; on the other 

 hand, 1912, which has the fewest fires had next to the least rain, 

 and 1914, with next to most rain, had next to most fires. 



About lightning, and still using precipitation as a criterion, 

 compare them as to Hghtning trouble : 



No. Relative 



Year Lightning Fires Position 



No. 1 1911 11 No. 4 



No. 2 1914 12 No. 3 



No. 3 1915 4 No. 1 



No. 4 1912 3 No. 2 



No. 5 1913 49 No. 5 



Their relative positions here agree exactly with the relative nimi- 

 ber of fires. So it seems that the niimber of fires from lightning 

 is in direct proportion to the total fires. 



The mean maximimi temperature for the same period as the 

 precipitation should affect the season, so they will be Hsted: 



Relative 

 Year Mean Max. Temp. Position 



No. 1 1911 65.3 No. 4 



No. 2 1914 66.0 No. 5 



No. 3 1915 64.0 No. 3 



No. 4 1912 63.7 No. 1 



No. 5 1913 63.9 No. 2 



Here it is found that the two years which have the smallest 

 precipitation have the coolest weather, and the two with most rain 

 are the warmest. This is the most logical arrangement found so 

 far; but the trouble is that of these two cool years, one had the 

 most fires and the other the least. 



Continuing with temperature, if the probable heat of the fire 

 season by the record of the previous nine months could be fore- 

 told, it woiild help; so the average maximimi from the previous 

 October to Jime, with that of the following July to September, 



