1889.] PUBLIC DOCUMENT — No. 4. 647 



1864, 34.44 inches ; this was preceded, however, by a rain- 

 fall of 56.19 inches in 1863, which is, next to 1888, the high- 

 est for the period. 



The largest rainfall during any one month was 10.70 inches 

 in September. This record for one month has been exceeded 

 only five times during the period covered by the Amherst 

 observations (1836-1889). The rainfall was pretty evenly 

 distributed throughout the rest of the year. 



The mean annual temperature for the year is 43.98°. The 

 average for the period from 1837-88 is 46.81. The average 

 for the year 1875 was 44.22, which is the lowest except for 

 the year 1888. The highest average thus far for any year 

 has been 49.47°, in 1878. January, 1888, was the coldest 

 month since 1837, being 9.5 lower than the average for that 

 period. The temperature for October has been lower but 

 once, — 1841, — and for April and July but twice, since the 

 records began. The temperature for June, August and 

 November was the average for those months, while Decem- 

 ber shows a consideral)ly higher mean. February, March, 

 May and September were considerably below the average. 

 The weather during the growing months was quite favorable 

 to the grass crop, but corn sufl'ered considerably from the 

 wet weather. The latter was unfavorable for the curing of 

 both these crops. 



The last killing frost of the season occurred May 8 ; the 

 first in the autumn, September 7. The average date of the 

 first killing frost in this vicinity is September 20. Light 

 frost occurred ]\Iay 16 and September 6. Snow-squalls 

 occurred October 9 ; the first snow-storm happened Novem- 

 ber 25. This snowfall, amounting to 5 inches, was the only 

 appreciable one during the month. The snow disappeared 

 quickly. In December there were two slight storms, amount- 

 ing to less than 3 inches. 



The prevailing direction of the wind for the j^ear was 

 N. W. It was north-west in January, February, March, 

 April, June, July, August, Septeml)er, October and Decem- 

 ber; sotith-west in May, and north-east in Noveml)er. 



The number of days when the sky was less than four-tenths 

 covered by clouds, clear days, was 58 ; the greatest number, 

 9, being in January, and the fewest, 1, in August. 



