No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. ix 



from the 22d to the 29th ; the last period was the hottest 

 spell of weather felt in Massachusetts for several years. 

 Very little rain fell in any section of the State from the 4th 

 to the 28th, and this, coupled with the intense heat, caused 

 a sharp though not unusually severe drought. The greatest 

 damage was probal^ly done to potatoes, although grain, 

 garden truck, pastures and newly mowed fields suflered to 

 considerable extent. The drought ended with heavy thunder- 

 storms on the 28th and 29th in the central and western 

 sections, and a heavy north-east rain on the 31st. 



The weather for the month of August was characterized 

 by a nearly average temperature, air pressure and sunshine, 

 while the precipitation was above the average in the central 

 counties and at or below the averaoe in the eastern. The 

 maximum temperature occurred generally on the 10th, 

 ranging from 88° to 98°. The mininmm was felt on dilicr- 

 ent dates at different stations, and was about 50° ; hence the 

 range for the month was not nearly so large as was experi- 

 enced in July. The dry weather that prevailed during the 

 greater part of July Avas continued through most of August 

 in Plymouth and Bristol counties, causing damage to nearly 

 all crops there ; fruit dropped l)adly, field and garden crops 

 dried up for want of water, and fields and pastures turned 

 brown. But in the central and western parts of the State 

 seasonable rains fell, and all vegetation was given rapid 

 growth. The local storms were heavy and frequent, and 

 much damage was done l)y lightning. 



The month of Septeml)er had very nearly a normal tempera- 

 ture, a deficiency of rainfall except in the vicinity of New 

 Bedford, and an air pressure and amount of sunshine above 

 the average. Few storms influenced the weather. The 

 highest temperature occurred on the 19th, ranging slightly 

 over 80°. The lowest was on the 21st or 30th, and was very 

 near the freezing point of water. Thus, while the monthly 

 range was not large, the daily ranges were very strong and 

 generally rapid. While at Taunton light frosts were re- 

 ported on twelve days and killing frosts on three, at Fitch- 

 burg no frost had occurred at the end of the month. Over 

 the greater part of the State the damage by frosts was very 

 slight. In this respect the season was unusually favorable, 



