8 



Weather for July, 1898. 

 July was a month of extremes in temperature, ranging 

 from a maximum of about 98° on the 3d to a minimum of 

 about 48° on the mornings of the 10th to 12th inclusive. In 

 some pUices light frosts were reported on the 12th but no 

 damage resulted. The precipitation was deficient during the 

 first half of the month, but later numerous showers brought 

 the amount u}) to the average. A very severe thunderstorm 

 passed over east-central Massachusetts during the afternoon 

 of the 21st. The rainfall was very heavy and considerable 

 damage was done by lightning. This storm was most wel- 

 come as the ground at that time felt the lack of moisture and 

 some crops were beginning to show the effects of the drought 

 quite seriously. The last three days of the month were 

 generally cloudy, with scattered light showers, and alto- 

 gether more favorable than the hot, dry weather of the first 

 decade. The winds during the month were of moderate 

 velocity, and, as is usual at this season of the year, came 

 from the south-west more frequently than from any other 

 direction. At Boston the wind attained a velocity of thirty- 

 five miles per hour on the 21st during the passage of the 

 thunderstorm mentioned above. 



In the circular to correspondents, returnable July 23, the 

 folloAving questions were asked : — 



1. What insects are proving most troublesome in your 

 locality ? 



2. What is the condition of Indian corn, and what pro- 

 portion of the crop will be put into the silo? 



3. What is the quantity and quality of the hay crop as 

 compared with former years? 



4. What forage crops are being raised to supplement the 

 hay crop, for the silo, and to eke out the pastures, and what 

 is their condition? 



5. What is the condition of market-garden crops, in- 

 cluding potatoes, and how have those already harvested 

 compared in yield and price with former years ? 



6. What is the prospect for apples, pears, peaches, 

 plums, quinces, grapes and cranberries ? 



