EXPERIMENT STATION. 777 



temperature for July (73.70°) was the highest for the same 

 month since 1839, when it was 74.40° ; July, 1863, it was 

 70.87°, the nearest approach to it. Similar relations are 

 true of the total rainfall. Durins; the month there fell 8.93 

 inches, the largest amount during any month of Jul;^ since 

 1839, when it was 9.5() inches; in 1863 it was 8.63 inches, 

 the next highest amount. Between 4.30 p. m. on the 23d of 

 July, and 6 a. m. on the 24th, 3.50 inches of rain fell ; and 

 from 1 p. M. on the 24th, to 4.25 p. m. of the same day, 1.50 

 inches fell, making a total rainfall of 5.00 inches inside of 

 24 hours. It was the heaviest rainfall of the season, and did 

 a large amount of damage, not only to the growing crops, 

 but by the washing of roads and hillsides. Very heavy fogs 

 characterized both August and September. The first frost 

 occurred on the 17tii of September. Nov. 11 there were 

 several snow-squalls during the day, but the first snow of the 

 season of any amount was on the 18th of Deceml)er. The 

 year closes with about four inches of snow, and good sleigh- 

 ing. 



During the summer there have been sixteen thunder- 

 storms, some of which were very severe, and did considera- 

 ble damage. The first occurred on the 18th of February, and 

 the last on the 2d of October. During those storms which 

 occurred in the months of July and August, observations 

 were taken every half-hour, and forwarded to the signal ser- 

 vice ofiicer at Boston, Mass. 



Weekly crop reports were forwarded during the months 

 of July, August and September, to the Boston Signal Service 

 Station, giving the rainfall, temperature, amount of sunshine, 

 and the condition of the diff'erent crops. Farmers had good 

 weather for securing their hay crop, but, on account of the 

 excessive moisture of July and August, they were seriously 

 hindered with their rowen, some of it being spoiled before 

 an opportunity came to secure it. Potatoes suffered from 

 the continued wet spell, but a good crop of corn was ob- 

 tained. The open fall was favorable for farm work. 



The prevailing direction of the wind for the year was 

 N.W. It was northwest in January, February, March, 

 April, August, September, October, November and Decem- 

 ber ; southwest in May and June, and south in July. 



