646 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Jan. 



METEOROLOGY. 



The meteorological observations of the past year have been 

 a continuation of those of preceding years, being on the same 

 general plan as recommended to voluntary observers of the 

 United States Signal Service. Observations are made at 7 

 A.M., 2 P.M. and 9 p.m., and include observations of tem- 

 perature, quantity and movements of the clouds, direction of 

 the wind, the humidity of the air during the summer months, 

 rain and snow fall, and of casual phenomena. 



January opened with 4 inches of snow and good sleighing, 

 which continued through the larger part of the month. On 

 the 26th, a heavy snow-storm. At the close of the month 

 the snow averaged about 18 inches. Quite a depth of snow 

 remained on the ground until the thaw of the 20th of Febru- 

 ary. The snowfall for the month of February amounted to 

 9.5 inches. At the close of the month there were 6 inches 

 on the ground. 



From the 11th to the 16th of March occurred the severest 

 storm of the season. This storm is recorded as giving 16 

 inches of snow, which amounted to 3."35 inches of water. 

 The storm was accompanied by high winds. The compara- 

 tively warm weather which followed took the snow otf 

 rapidl3^ At the close of the month there were but 2 inches 

 of snow on the ground. The last storm of the season occurred 

 on April 10, with a record of 1.5 inches of snowftill. 



The rainfall for the year amounted to 58.04 inches, or an 

 average of 4.84 per month. According to the observations 

 at Amherst, this is the heaviest since they were begun in 

 1836. 



The average rainfall for the years 1836-1888 amounts to 

 44.34 inches. The smallest rainfall during this time was in 



