318 



] 5th, at 5 a. m., tlie thermometer stood at 32^ ; frost killed yoiuig shoots of grape- 

 vines. 27th, a great hail-storm began at 4^ p. m. ; the wind at first was from 

 the west; during the storm it changed to southwest, and then rapidly through 

 east to north ; when southwest it blew with a force of 9 ; within about an hour 

 and a half it hailed twice, with a marked interval ; the last time the hailstones 

 averaged the size of hulled walnuts; many were much larger ; one measured in 

 longest diameter 2§ inches, and in shortest, 2^ inches ; many others were reported 

 to be larger ; at this point the storm travelled from southwest to northeast ; great 

 destruction was done ; upwards of two inches of water fell in two and a half 

 hours. 



Grampian Hills, Pennsylvania. — May 13. — In the morning light clouds; 

 barometer falling very fast ; at 4.30 a. m. heavy storm of wind from north- 

 west, with rain, throwing down timber and fences, and tearing down and un- 

 roofing several buildings ; it lasted from five to ten minutes ; at 2 p. m. drizzling 

 rain ; barometer rising, and thermometer falling. 14th, frost ; thermometer 30^ 

 at 5 a. m. Apple and wild plum mostly in bloom. 23d, extremely dry ; grass 

 and grain backward ; oaks beginning to show leaf; corn being planted. 



Dyhcrry, Pennsylvania. — May 13. — Rain from 3 p. m. to 4 30, commencing 

 with strong wind from southwest and some thunder; north and northwest of 

 this place large quantities of timber were blown down. 25th, streams have been 

 very low for some weeks. 27th, small streams well filled. 31st, the spring has 

 been unusually cold and backward, fully three weeks later than usual. 



North Whitcl all, Pennsylvania. — May 3. — Plums in full bloom. 6th, peaches 

 in full bloom, very sparingly. 12th, apples in full bloom. 13th, rain at 4 p. 

 m., preceded by high wind. 



Stcvensville, Pennsylvania. — May 13. — A heavy blow passed here this after- 

 noon ; a dark cloud arose rapidly in the northwest, and reached here at about 2 

 p. m. ; the wind was strong enough to blow over and twist off trees ; two or 

 three buildings were unroofed, and one or two moved from their foundations ; the 

 stoiTU was accompanied with thunder and lightning and considerable rain. 



Tioga, Pennsylvania. — May 4 to 7. — Heavy frost each day; on the 4th ice 

 one quarter of an inch thick, and on the 5th an eighth of an inch. 8fli, planted 

 corn to-day; cold enough to wear mittens. 13th, very hard shower of rain and 

 hail between 1 and 2 o'clock p. m., accompanied by very strong wind ; inany build- 

 ings were unroofed, fruit and other trees torn down, and fences scattered in all 

 directions. 16th, apple trees in bloom. 23d, heavy frost this morning; ground 

 frozen; ice a sixteenth of an inch thick; a little snow about 9 a. m. 31st, this 

 has been the coldest and dryest May in twelve years. 



New Castle, Pennsylvania. — May 13. — Mercury at 9 a. m. fell from 74° to 

 50° in twenty minutes; a hail-storm passed west and north a few miles from 

 here. 14th and 15th, very heavy white frost; ice fonned an eighth of an inch 

 thick ; nothing injured on the high elevation on which the observer lives except 

 a few early strawberry blossoms, but on the next level below grapes were killed. 



St. Mary's City, Maryland. — May 13. — About 5 o'clock this afternoon a 

 violent tornado, accompanied by thunder and lightning and followed by rain, 

 came sweeping from the west. In its course across St. Mary's river it described 

 an irregular curve. The line of its greatest intensity was not greater than a few 

 rods in width ; in this space it appeared to revolve on an axis perpendicular to 

 its course, and raised the water as it advanced* in large masses. In one place 

 it remained stationary for a few seconds, and elevated a column of water some 

 six or eight feet high, exhibiting, in a very lucid manner, the law of the forma- 

 tion of water-spouts. When it emerged on the land it carried away trees and 

 fences in its course, continuing in the same curve, whose radius could not have 

 been more than two miles. Immediately afterwards the wind shifted to the 

 northeast. 



Woodlawn, Maryland. — The month has been very cold and backward for 



