xxiv BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



1st to the 9th inclusive, excepting the 5th, which was some- 

 what warmer than the average. The minimum range of 

 the mercury at Boston on the 2d and 3d, 34° and 35° 

 respectively, broke the official record, being the lowest 

 for those days of the month of October in twenty-seven 

 years. A "warm spell" prevailed from the 10th to the 

 19th inclusive. There was a general deficiency in the pre- 

 cipitation for the month, the rainfall being little more than 

 half the customary amount for October. Owing to the 

 prevalence of dry weather, there was much haze, smoke 

 and dust in the atmosphere, giving conditions usually de- 

 scriptive of the period commonly known by the name of 

 Indian summer. 



November was marked by a preponderance of fair weather, 

 precipitation occurring in measurable amounts on an aver- 

 age of but six days. The precipitation was deficient at all 

 stations where official observations were taken. As gauged 

 by popular opinion, the month was unusually warm, which 

 conclusion was doubtless due to the equable distrilmtion 

 of the temperature throughout the period. An examina- 

 tion of the temperature data, however, disproves the opin- 

 ion, and shows that the monthly mean Avas less than half 

 of a de2:ree in excess of the normal for November. As a 

 result of the dry weather and small rainfall, wells, springs, 

 streams, ponds and lakes were low. 



The weather during December deviated greatly from the 

 types usually experienced during this month in New Eng- 

 land. It Avas unusually warm from the 1st to the 25th, 

 Christmas Day inclusive, during which time plowing and 

 grading progressed almost uninterruptedly in many sections 

 of the State. In many localities of the eastern counties 

 grass remained green till near the close of the month, wild 

 and cultivated flowers were in bloom in the open air, and 

 there was little if any frost in the ground. The closing 

 days were cold, being marked by a well-defined cold wave. 

 This month, like November, was also very dry. The pre- 

 cipitation was 1.80 inches less than the normal, and w^as 

 chiefly in the form of rain, and in some localities there was 

 an entire absence of snow. The drought caused a continua- 

 tion of inconveniences to farms and to manufactures. 



