40 



was clue north; in Whitfsides county, northern Illinois, it blew from the south- 

 west; arid south of St. Louis, from the northwest.'' 



Indfa.va. — Mr. Thomas B. Redding, of New Castle, Henry county, after de- 

 scribing the snow-storm and the sudden shifting of the wind from southwest to 

 northwest, says : 



"Thermometer at 2 p. m., December 31, 35 degrees above zero. Thermome- 

 ter at .5 a. m., January 1, 19 degrees below zero; a change of 58 degrees in 15 

 liours." 



The effect on fruit trees he describes as follows : " I have made pretty thorough 

 examination of our trees, and find that nearly all of our peach trees, and large 

 numbers of pear trees, are killed to the snow line. • Plum and cherry trees are 

 badly damaged, many being hopelessly killed. Apple trees do not seem to be 

 injured much. Grapes are badly injured in some localities, and probably all 

 vines not protected will require very close pruning. Raspberries and black- 

 berries, where not protected, badly injured. Currants and gooseberries not in- 

 jured much. Bees have suffered greatly ; many stands killed. Stock was gen- 

 erally pretty well provided for, Eailroad accidents have been very frequent, 

 causing much damage, and wounding and killing a number." 



Like reports fi'om Randolph and Bartholomew counties are made to the De- 

 partment. Mr. R. R. Dunihue, of Martin county, more south, says: "On the 

 first day of January the mercury ranged from 16 to 24 degrees below zero, and 

 it continued very cold for nearly two weeks, with snow on the ground about a 

 foot in depth." He reports a like destruction of the fruit buds and the trees. 



The statements made by the papers are to the same effect; as also reports 

 made to horticultural associations. 



Ohio. — The following communication Avas received and read before the Cin- 

 ciunati Horticultural Society: 



LTrbaaa, January 31. 



Dear Sir: I observe by the published proceedings of the Horticultural So- 

 ciety, that the effects of the intensely cold weather on the first day of the month 

 has been a question of some interest, and that the members have been requested 

 to examine the subject and report the result. I therefore send for your use the 

 character of the weather at Urbana, and what appears to be the condition of some 

 of our fruit. 



The barometer indicated a change at 9 o'clock p. m., December 30; at that 

 hour it was 29.06 inches. It fell rapidly till 9 o'clock the next evening, when 

 it stood at an unusually low point — 28.12 inches, having fallen very ntar an 

 inch in twenty-four hours. The mercury then rose rapidly till it reached 29.20 

 inches at 9 p. m., January 1st, the whole rise being 1.08 inch. 



Rain commenced falling on the morning of the 31st, continuing moderately all 

 day ; at 9 p. m. it changed to snow ; the quantity of snow was | of an inch ; and 

 the rain, including the snow melted, was the 4-5 of an inch. 



The thermometer on Thursday, 9 p. m., was 34 degrees, and it was at this 

 time that the rapid change began. On the mornmg of January 1, the ther- 

 mometer was 11 degrees below zero; at noon it was 9 below; at 9 p. m. it was 

 14 below. The branches of trees and shrubbery were covered with ice and 

 snow. 



This morning (January 1) I made the following entry in my register: 



"The sudden and extreme change in the weather since last evening has no 

 doubt done great damage to fruit trees and tender shrubbery. The peach trees 

 have probably been killed; they have been destroyed heretofore when appear- 

 ances were more favorable. The mean temperature to-day is 111 degrees below 

 zero; yesterday it was 37| degrees above zero, making the difterence of the two 

 days 48| degrees. This is a greater change in so short a time than I have ever 

 observed. The sleet frozen on the branches would be imfjxvorable to safety of 

 buds." 



