224 ANNUAL REPORT 



witli horticulturists especially, since it is well for them to fully 

 understand all the conditions of success. The sudden changes in 

 temperature, and marked extremes of heat and cold, experienced 

 here, are often quite disastrous to our orchard trees, as well as to 

 our vines and other tender plants. Perhaps this is the greatest 

 obstacle in the way of growing hardy, wiuter fruits. Last 

 winter was not so severe, (at least for fruit) as usual. Although 

 we had much steady cold, as well as frosty weather, still as a 

 rule the temperature was more equable and mild compared with 

 that of the preceding winter of 1884-5. Here at St. Paul, the 

 mean temperature in January was colder by one-half degree 

 than the preceding January; but the thermometer failed to drop 

 as low by two degrees, and did not go above the freezing point 

 while in that month in the preceding year the range was very 

 great, as for example, January 2d, was 36° below; the 5th, 46° 

 above; then down again to freezing on the 7th, and on the 8th to 

 46° above. The mean temperature in December, 1885, was 4.1°; 

 of February 1885, 9.9°; of February 1886, 15°. 



THE SEASONS. 



Spring opened somewhat earlier than common. The warm, 

 dry weather which ensued was favorable for outdoor labor, and 

 farmers eagerly improved the time in putting in their wheat and 

 other grain. The copious showers of rain which followed later 

 on, were very timely and rapidly brought forward vegetation. 

 The cereals of every kind were given a good start, the grass af- 

 forded pasturage in excellent quality and abundance, the hay 

 crop therefore being good^ as well as that of grain. 



The most remarkably dry season which prevailed to a con- 

 siderable extent throughout our summer months was not partic- 

 ularly severe in Minnesota; at least in any sense which might 

 be deemed disastrous to growing crops, or causing serious in- 

 convenience to those who cultivate the soil. The .serious injury 

 to crops from drought experienced elsewhere, and notably in 

 portions of the states of Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Indiana and 

 Illinois, was quite unknown to us. And this affords a striking 

 instance of the "staying" qualities of our soil, as being of a na- 

 ture which enables it to quite withstand such trying tests as 

 these, of long continued drought, without much loss to growing- 

 crops of any kiud. In many instances, in fact, it has been found 

 that yields of grain were larger and of higher grade than have 



