The average condition of meadow mowing lands was 92.8, 

 against 90.8 on May 1 of last year, 84.9 in 1899, and 91.1, 

 the mean of the May averages of the last ten years. 



The average condition of spring pastures was 91.5, against 

 91.3 on May 1 of last year, 83.5 in 1899, and 90.8, the 

 mean of the May averages of the last ten years. 



The proportion of spring plowing done by May 1 was 66.3 

 of the total contemplated, as compared with 68.4 last year, 

 57.2 in 1899, and 71.3, the mean of the May averages of 

 the last ten years. Only thrice in the last fifteen years has 

 the percentage done by May 1 been as low as it was this 

 year. 



Weather Summary, Jan. 1 to May 1, 1901. 



[Furnished by thb Weather Bureau, Boston.] 



The weather of January was without special features, and 

 therefore generally characteristic of the month. There was 

 about the usual amount of cloudiness and sunshine, and the 

 number of stormy days was about the usual average. The 

 average precipitation for the entire State, 2.02 inches, was 

 about an inch below the average. It was well distributed 

 throughout the month and over the territory, and the defi- 

 ciency was for this reason unimportant. There were no 

 severe or destructive storms, the disturbances being of the 

 character of those usuall}' experienced in New England dur- 

 ing January. The monthly temperature was about the 

 normal for the season, and quite even throughout the month. 

 The snowfall was less than the average, but, on account of 

 the absence of the usual " thaw," the ground was generally 

 covered through the month. 



February was exceptionally pleasant. During 15 days of 

 the month the skies were cloudless, and there was an aver- 

 age of but 6 cloudy days. The precipitation for the month 

 was remarkably light, the monthly average being but .8S 

 of an inch, and this fell chiefly during one storm, that of the 

 4th and 5th. The snowfall was light, averaging about 10 

 inches, but, owing to the prevailing low temperature, much 

 of it remained on the ground until the close of the month. 

 The temperature formed a conspicuous feature of the month, 

 it being uniformly low, with the monthly average about 3° 

 below the normal. Notwithstanding the low monthly mean, 



