776 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



METEOROLOGY, 



The past year's meteorological observations have been a 

 continuation of those of the two previous seasons, being on 

 the same general plan as recommended to voluntary ob- 

 servers of the U. S. Signal Service, and described in the 

 Third Annual Report. As soon as possible after the close 

 of each month, a copy of our monthly records of observa- 

 tions is forwarded to the chief signal officer at Washington, 

 D. C, and also to the officer stationed at Boston, Mass. A 

 summary of each month's observations are published in our 

 bulletins and annual reports, and are thus made accessible 

 to the farmers throughout the State. 



January opened with 3.50 inches of snow, and good sleigh- 

 ing. Between the 5th and 17th, 29 inches of snow fell, but 

 during the thaw of the last eight days the snow nearly all 

 disappeared, and at the end of the month only a little here 

 and there was to be seen. The mean temperature of the 

 month was 3.9° below that of any month of January for the 

 last fifty years. Storms were frequent, and 22.50 inches of 

 snow fell during February. During the evening of Feb. 

 18 there was a sharp shower, accompanied by thunder and 

 lightning, and at 8 p. m. a slight earthquake shock was felt. 

 Bluebirds were seen on the 13th, and robins on the 20th, of 

 March. The temperature for the month of April was lower 

 than for any previous April since 1875, and on the 18th 

 there was a fall of 6.50 inches of snow. On April 8 the first 

 frost occurred ; the last, on May 14. Abundance of moist- 

 ure characterized the growing months — June, July and 

 August. The total rainfall for June was 5.09 inches; for 

 July, 8.93 inches; and for August, 7.75 inches. The mean 



