32 EESOUECES OF CALIFORNIA. 



were 9.40; in '59, only 1.28; in '60, 1.64; and in '62, 24.36 

 inches. 



The average of February is 3.67 inches ; but in 1853, the fall 

 was 1.42 ; in '54, 8.04 ; in '56, 0.50 ; in '57, 8.59 ; in '58, 1.83 ; 

 in '59, 6.32 ; in '60, 1.60 ; in '61, 3.72 ; and in '62, 7.53 inches. 

 This shows a remarkable alternation. In only one year did 

 the amount approach the average; in the others (excluding 

 the last), the rains were very heavy and very light by turns. 

 A dry February, after a wet December and January, is one of 

 the pleasantest months of the year in California. 



The average rain-fall of March is 3.38: in 1857, the amount 

 was 1.62; in '58, 5.55. 



The average of April is 2.63: in 1855, the amount was 5 

 inches; in '57, nothing; in '58, 1.35 ; and in '59, 0.27. 



The average of May is 0.63 : in 1857, the amount was 0.05 ; 

 and in '60, 2.86. 



The average of June is 0.08 ; of July, 0.02 ; of August, 0.03 ; 

 and of September, 0.15. There are no large rains recorded in 

 any of these months. 



The average of October is 0.66 : but in 1854, the amount was 

 2.41 ; and in '58, 2.74 ; in '55, nothing. 



The average of November is 2.50 : in 1854, the amount was 

 0.34; in '59, 7.28; and in '60, 0.58. 



The average of December is 4,49 : in 1854, the amount was 

 0.81 ; in '57, 8.08 ; in '59, 1.57 ; in '60, 6.16 ; and in '62, 9.54. 



The rainy season of 1854-55 did not commence, it may be 

 said, until January; for although there were 2.41 inches of 

 rain in October, yet the amount was .only 0.34 in November, 

 and 0.81 in December: so that the moisture from the October 

 rain did no good to either the farmer or the miner, having 

 been completely dried out from the earth before the rains of 

 January came. 



Let us now examine the rainy seasons since 1050, and see 

 in what months more thau three inches of rain fell. In 1851- 

 '52, these months were December and March ; in '52-'53, De- 

 cember, January, and March; in '53-54, January, February, 



