been accurately determined. The ice crop was harvested 

 during the mouth under generally favorable conditions. 



February was above the normal in both temperature and 

 precipitation, but the snowfall was generally moderate 

 throughout the State. The first part of the month was very 

 cold, temperatures of zero and below being generally reported 

 on four successive mornings ; later in the month the weather 

 was mild, with a maximum of 50° or above on the 10th. 

 There was much cloudiness and rain and an unusual hail and 

 sleet storm on the 19th to 22d. At Fitchburg fine hail fell 

 continuously for forty-two hours, and then sleet for nineteen 

 hours. In the central southern portion of the State ice three 

 inches thick formed on the sides of trees, stripping them 

 clean of branches, while small trees were broken down to the 

 ground and entirely destroyed. 



March was remarkably mild and pleasant. At the end of 

 the month the ground was generally in good tillable condi- 

 tion, with snow gone and frost almost entirely out. The 

 season was considered from two to three weeks in advance 

 of the average. The precipitation was deficient and the 

 snowfall very light. The month was singularly free from 

 severe storms and gales. The greatest amount of precipita- 

 tion, 4.27 inches, occurred at Vineyard Haven ; this amount 

 was also the maximum for New England. The temperature 

 was at 60° or above on several days, but the minimum values 

 were uhusually high. Without doubt there have been pre- 

 vious Marches warmer than this of 1898, although the fact 

 can be determined only by comparison with long records of 

 single stations. At New Bedford, Mass., the Marches of 

 1825 and 1871 were warmer than this of 1898, while those 

 of 1831, 1842, 1859, 1865 and 1878 diflTered but slightly 

 from it. Comparison with other reliable records would pre- 

 sumably reveal facts similar to the preceding. 



The prevailing weather of April was most unfavorable for 

 agricultural pursuits. The remarkably mild weather during 

 March, with bright, sunny days, presaged an early spring. 

 April in some parts of the State was the coldest and wettest 

 on record, and all preliminary farm work was greatly re- 

 tarded. The average temperature deficiency was about 3°, 

 with the highest temperature of about 70° on the 17th. The 



