No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xi 



month. The first snow of any amount occm-red in central 

 and western Massachusetts on the 4th. The fall ranged from 

 1 to 3 inches, but soon melted. It was general on the 15th, 

 and light falls were reported on the 20th and 22d in some 

 places. The greatest amount reported during the month was 

 14 inches at Monroe. In the hill districts from a trace to 3 

 inches of snow lay on the ground on the loth, but there was 

 practically none in any locality at the end of the month. 

 No report was received of injury to trees or roots by the 

 cold weather. Southwesterly winds prevailed except along 

 the immediate coast. The highest' velocity was generally on 

 the 28th, when 72 miles an hour was recorded at Blue Hill 

 Observatory. 



December was wet and slightly cooler than the average. 

 The highest temperature occurred on the 25th, ranging 

 from 47° to 61°. The lowest was on the 14th, and was 

 from 10° above zero on the extreme southern coast to 18° 

 below in the interior ; making a monthly range even greater 

 than was experienced in November. The 4th was quite 

 warm along the coast, but generally the 25th was one of the 

 warmest Christmas days on record. At Taunton buttercups 

 and pansies were picked in the open air. The precipitation 

 was greatest in the eastern part of the State, but was every- 

 where above the average. From 8 to 20 inches of snow fell 

 along the coast and from 20 to 35 inches in the hill districts. 

 Except in sheltered places very little remained on the ground 

 after the 25th of the month. Very few reports of probable 

 damage by lack of snow covering were received. Consider- 

 able damage was done to fruit trees in eastern Massachusetts 

 by the ice storms of the 3d and 14th to 16th. 



Crops of the Year. 



June 1, most corresjjondents stated that the season was two 

 weeks later than the previous year, but aside from its late- 

 ness it was thought to coinpare favoral)ly with former years. 

 Stock generally wintered well. The bloom for apple trees 

 appeared to be below the average, but other fruit trees and 

 early berries had an unusually full bloom. Insects, particu- 



