21 



DROUGHT AND FIRES IN JULY. 



Subjoiued are a few notices of the extensive drought which prevailed in June 

 and continued through July ; also of the " smoky" or "hazy" atmosphere which 

 attracted so much attention, and the cause of which is apparent when the 

 accounts are brought together. 



IVatervilh, Maine. — July 17. — Very smoky, fires doing much damage in 

 Aroostook county, distant one hundred miles southeast, burning buildings, 

 fences, woodland, and destroying grain and grass fields. July 24, quite smoky, 

 so much so as nearly to obscure the sun's rays in the morning and evening. 

 Fires rage in almost every direction ; one eight miles, at South Belgrade, in a 

 peat bog. July 30, yet smoky as ever The air has scarcely been clear of the 

 scent and vapor of smoke during the last ten days ; fires continue to rage as 

 bad as ever. The later crops are failing for Avant of rain. 



Lisbon, Maine. — July 23. — Fires raging in many places in the woods. Near 

 Bath a barn with twenty tons of hay was destroyed. Bog in Durham burning; 

 drought severe ; corn rolling up in many places. 31st. The smoke has been so 

 dense much of the time since the 13th as to obscure the sun some days entirely, 

 and I think there have been but three days that I could not look at the sini 

 directly withoiit glasses. 



BlvchiU, Maine — From the 23d to the close of the month the heavens were 

 so smoky that the kind of cloudiness could not be noted. Numerous fires are 

 raging in the State. The oldest inhabitants all concur in saying that in no 

 previous July has there been so little rain and fog. 



Gardiner, Maine. — The most remarkable feature of the month has been the 

 continued and increased severity of the drought. There has been a remarkable 

 absence of dew, and the small amount of rain appears by the following com- 

 parison : 



Average moistiirc for July for twenty-five previous years 3. 369 



Minimum during the same period 1. 472 



Amount for July, 1864 0. 588 



Average for June and July together, for twenty-five previous years. . 6. 751 



Minimum during the same period 3. 264 



Amount of June and July, 1864 1. 488 



The amount for July, and also for June' and July combined, is less than half 

 the lowest amount recorded in any previous year for twenty-five years. Very 

 destructive and extensive fires have occurred in consequence, and are still 

 raging. 



Clarcmont, Keic Hampshire. — Unparalleled drought during this month, 

 which did not cease till some days into August. 



tjhelbur7ie, Neio HampsJiire. — July 23. — Fires in all directions; evening very 

 smoky. 24th. Smoke more dense than yesterday. 30th. Smoke settled into 

 the valleys this evening. 



Lunenburg, Ven)iont. — July 23, 24. — For many years we have not had two 

 days so smoky. Extensive fires are burning in the woods around us, and the 

 extreme drought is favorable for their spreading very rapidly. 



Worcester, Massachusetts. — July 24. — Smoky all day. 



Wcstjield, Massachusetts. — ^The most remarkable phenomena of this month 

 are the heat and dryness. The thermometer has not risen higher than during 

 the same month in previous years, but the heat has been more constant. lu 

 July, 1804, the thermometer Avas 80^ or upwards 17 times ; in 1863, 8 times ; 

 in ls;62, 10 times. 



Sjjringjic/d, Massachusetts. — In 52 days, June 3 to July 24, inclusive, there 



