64 



severe cold. On the evening of the 31st the mercury had sunk to — 28. The 

 following table shows the comparative temperature and rain for five years : 



St. Paul, Minnesota. 



The maximum temperature of the year 1863 was 91° on the 6tli of July, 

 18th of Augu.st, and 15th of September. The minimum was — 31° on the 3d of 

 February. — Rev. A. B. Paterson, D. D. 



SUMMARIES FOR THE YEAR 186.3. 



Wes'Jield, MassarJimetts. — The amount of rain that fell in this town in 1863 

 ■was 60.97 inches, which is more than has fallen in aify year of which I have 

 any record. The following record was kept in this town by an accurate 

 observer, showing the quantity of rain and snow that fell in three years : 



In 1786, 34.37 inches of rain and seven feet eleven inches of snow ; in 1787, 

 34.84 inche.5 rain and four feet ten inches snow ; in 1788, 39.29 inches rain and 

 three feet seven inches snow. — Rev. Emerson Davis. 



Providence, R'lode Island. — The mean temperature of the year was 47.70°, 

 which is 0.49^ beljw the average of thirty-two years. The maximum temper- 

 ature was 92^ on the 24!;h of May; the minimum 6"^ below zero on the 4th of 

 February. The warmest day was May 22, mean temperature 78.8° ; the 

 coldest day, Febuary 4, mean temperature 3^ degrees below zero. The warmest 

 month was July, the coldest December. The quantity of rain was extraordinary, 

 being 54.22 inches, which is no less than 13.05 inches above the average of 

 thirty-two years, and nearly an inch more than in any year during that period. 

 The large excess occurred in April, July, November, and December The 

 rain fall of July, 9.42 inches, exceeds that of any other mouth in thirty-two 

 years. — Prof. A Caswell. 



Buffalo, New York. — Temperature. — The highest temperature during the 

 year was 93^ in July, the lowest — 7° in February; the mean of the year, 47°. 

 The lake was free from ice during the entire month of January. It was closed 

 by ice on the 4th of February, and open again for navigation on the 26th. The 

 best and nearly all the ice housed by dealers for summer use was cut after the 

 15th of March. The creek cleared of ice on the 27th of March. Three pro- 

 pellers left port on the 3d of April, and the ice disappeared on the 4th. Erie 

 canal opened on the 1st of May ; ice formed over stagnant pools on the 26feh 

 and 29th of October. The first snow of autumn, sufficient to whiten the earth, 

 fell on the 26 th of November. The Erie canal closed on the 12th of December. 



Vegetation. — The opening of buds and flowers was in April, and one week 

 earlier than in the previous year. Currants and lilacs were in leaf on the 4th 

 of May ; peach and cherry trees were in blossom on the 12th ; strawberries on 

 the 14th; plum trees on the 15th, and apple trees on the 25th. The sugar 



