198 



THE CLIMATE OF CALVERT COUNTY 



dates of the first and last killing frosts at Solomons from 1893 to 1905 

 are given in Table XII. The latest date with a minimum tempera- 

 ture of 32° was April 27, 1893, but a light frost has occurred as late as 

 May 26 (1899). The earliest date of the last killing frost in spring 

 was March 18, 1901. The earliest first light frost in fall occurred Oc- 

 tober 2, 1899, and in 1898 the date of the first killing was deferred to 

 November 24. 



PRECIPITATION. 



As the amount of rainfall determines the agricultural productiveness 

 of a country, precipitation, which includes melted snow, sleet, and hail, 

 is the most important element of climate after temperature, but it is 

 far more variable. For climatological purposes the following data are 

 required : 1, the monthly and annual rainfall ; 2, the maximum amount 

 of rain during a short period of time, as a day or an hour ; 3, the number 

 of rainy days, and duration of consecutive days with rain; and -1, the 

 periods of drought or longest consecutive number of dry days. Table 

 XIII gives the monthly and annual precipitation at Solomons; and 

 Table XIV the greatest precipitation in 24 hours. 



