FRUIT committee's REPORT. 33 



August, and the total for that year was the enormous amount of 67.84 

 inches. The amount for 1SC2 was G1.06 inches, which shows an aggre- 

 gate of 128.9 inches in two consecutive years, — over lOi solid feet of 

 water, an ample amount for a second deluge. This is 38.3 inches in ex- 

 cess of the average gauge for two years, which is 90.06 inches. 



The extremes of variation are between the maximum of 1803 and the 

 minimum fall of 26 inches in 1816, showing a difference of over forty 

 inches. It is evident that the common impression that about the same 

 quantity of rain falls each year is an error. Yet the cases cited are ex- 

 tremes, and it is true that the variations from the average are not greater 

 than we might expect. We were greatly relieved the present season by 

 the absence of rain during the ripening month of September, the fall 

 being only three quarters of an inch, or one thirteenth part as much as 

 in August previous. This change was an inestimable advantage to the 

 Grape and other ripening crops, and also to the trees, which were unu- 

 sually succulent. Yet the remedy came too late to prevent the injury 

 caused by the excessive rain of the summer months. Forage plants may 

 luxuriate in the moisture, but even with these the growth is too succulent. 

 Of course the evil is great!}' mitigated by thorough drainage, and it is 

 less felt in soils naturally porous. Yet nothing can compensate for the 

 lack of the warm genial influence of the sun. Vegetable growth has 

 been luxuriant, but there has been a uniform lack of flavor in all our 

 fruits. Perhaps the pear has suffered in quality as much as any fruit, 

 being watery and lacking in the high flavor of former years. Many 

 kinds have cracked worse than ever, owing to the stagnant action of the 

 roots in the cold wet ground. As we should expect. Grapes have been 

 subject to the difterent forms of mildew, which cause, in addition to the 

 unusually late start in the spring, has prevented many kinds from ripen- 

 ing. It seems evident that moderate dryness is essential to the develop- 

 ment of the highest quality in fruit. Along, the shores of Lake Erie, 

 the showers which are generated by the Lakes are carried over and 

 empty themselves upon the interior hill country, while the shore belt and 

 the islands are favored with a gentle humidity and a uniformity of tem- 

 perature which insures the best results. In the vicinity of Boston, where 

 the average rain fall during the three summer months is about 12^ inches 

 (an inch more than at Cleveland, Ohio, and from three to four inches 

 more than in the wine districts of Europe,) we must choose drier and 

 more porous soils, steejier declivities, we must see that drainage is per- 

 fect, in a word, we must make it the great problem to counteract the 

 effect of a superabundance of rain. The difficulty is that our rain is most 

 unequally distributed; excessive drought following excessive rain. Belts 

 of Evergreens have a surprising effect in modifying these extremes, and 

 preserving a uniformity, of temperature and moisture. But Ave have 

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