68 DECIDUOUS FRUIT INSECTS AND INSECTICIDES. 



of maximum and minimum degrees of temperature were taken from 

 a special maximum and minimum instrument. Daily record was 

 also kept on the general weather conditions. For the preparation of 

 the following account of climatic conditions the writer has in addition 

 made ex tensive use of the reports of the United States Weather Bureau. 



The season of 1909 was characterized by a cool and wet April, 

 by heavy rains during July, and by an exceptionally warm Novem- 

 ber. During the month of May rather cold and dry weather pre- 

 vailed. During June the temperature as a whole was seasonable, 

 although there were an unusually large number of rainy days. The 

 temperature for July averaged slightly below normal, and the pre- 

 cipitation was far in excess of normal. During August the tempera- 

 ture averaged several degrees above the normal and the rainfall was 

 slightly in excess in the southern parts of the peninsula. September, 

 on the contrary, was marked by a somewhat low temperature and a 

 deficiency of precipitation, October was unseasonably cool and rather 

 dry, while November as a whole was unusually warm. 



The spring of 1910 in many of its features was unprecedented, as 

 is well stated by the United States Weather reports for March: 



The excessive warmth, the extreme dryness both as regards precipitation and rela- 

 tive humidity, the large number of clear days with bright sunshine, the early disap- 

 pearance ni snow and ice, the light wind movement, and the absence of serious storms 

 makes a history for the month (March) without parallel since the beginning of the 

 official records. Never since the Weather Bureau was established has there been such 

 an early opening spring. As a whole, the conditions that prevailed at the close of 

 the month were those usually experienced from three to five weeks later. 



The warm weather of March continued through the first two weeks 

 of April, when many deciduous fruit trees were out in full bloom. 

 Following this warm weather, at a very critical period for the 

 orchards, a drop of temperature occurred, which was accompanied 

 by a storm with rain and snow and severe freezing. The cool weather 

 which prevailed during the latter half of April continued with slight 

 interruption throughout the month of May and the first half of June. 

 Vegetation was not merely greatly retarded, but badly damaged, and 

 the season was exceptionally backward. In striking contrast to this 

 low-temperature condition came warm weather, which was rather 

 above normal, extending over the latter half of June and all of July. 

 August was fairly normal. During these last months precipitation 

 was below (lie average, and clear bright weather prevailed mostly 

 throughout. The weather conditions during September and October 

 were fairly normal. A marked drop in temperature set in during 

 late October, which brought most insect activity to a standstill for 

 the rest of the season. The month of November, in striking contrast 

 with 1909, was cloudy and cold. 



The uniform spring of 1911 was very favorable for the development 

 of fruit and leaf buds, which were not unduly forwarded. The 

 weather during April was rather more severe than usual until the last 



