306 ROCHESTER ACADEMY OF SCIENCE. [May 28, 



monthly a\erages are better index of the true temperature, and the 

 tables show that no inland city has greater uniformity. The coast 

 cities excel in this respect, but their superiority in this is neutralized 

 by defects in other elements, as will appear later. 



Precipitation : — The average annual precipitation of the whole 

 country is 36 inches. Rochester has 35 inches. Not only is the total 

 fall the proper amount but it is very evenly distributed through the 

 year, as evenly indeed as can be shown without using fractions. The 

 lowest seasonal fall is in the autumn when it is least needed. A com- 

 parative analysis of the figures in various ways only confirms the state- 

 ment that in that very important element of climate Rochester's 

 record is the ideal. In saying this it is assumed that a well distributed 

 rainfall is desirable. No place has an ideal climate which has its rain- 

 fall concentrated in a portion of the year, like Los Angeles, for 

 example. Of course the people and the industries become adjusted 

 to their climatic conditions and they may become perfectly satisfied 

 with or even praise a climate with some very defective conditions. 

 But statistical records give the truth, instead of personal impressions 

 and m.emory, and no amount of grumbling by Rochesterians can deny 

 the fact, as shown in the tables, that in the total precipitation we have 

 the ideal condition. We do not have to resort to irrigation to carry 

 on agriculture, nor make special provision against drought on the one 

 hand, and cloudbursts on the other. 



Winds: — In the element of winds Rochester is. also favored, the 

 records showing decided moderation. The region is protected from 

 severe gales. 



Clondincss : — There are two elements wherein Rochester appears 

 at a disadvantage. One is the cloudiness, the other the large number 

 of rainy days. These are essentially one condition which is expressed 

 by saying that our skies are relatively gray and somber, especially 

 during the autumn and winter. 



In the case of the large percentage of rainy days the figures are 

 to some degree misleading, since they do not discriminate between 

 actual storms and mere snow Hurries or rain sprinkles amounting to 

 0.0 1 inch. The stormy-day record is largely increased by the 

 frequent light lake snows of the colder months, which scarcely inter- 

 fere in any wise with either business or pleasure. 



Granting it true that we have frequent rains and a high percent- 

 age of cloudiness, what can be said in reply to the Rochester 

 grumbler? Just this ; that upon the whole the cloudiness which we 



