REPORT OF THE COMMITTEE ON FRUITS. 27 



April 22, peaches on the 25th, some pears on the 30th; and an ap- 

 ple-tree began to open its flowers on May 1, but, in consequence 

 of the cold first half of May, was not in full bloom until May 15. 



The mean tempei-ature of the four months of June, July, Au- 

 gust, and September, was a quarter of a degree beloio the average ; 

 but, if the second half of May is considered part of the " growing 

 months," the average of the four and a half months was two-fifths 

 of a degree warmer than usual, the last half of May showing the 

 remarkable excess of 5.90° above the average. 



The quantity of rain from December to May inclusive was in 

 every month below the average, the total deficiency being 3^ 

 inches. But the month of June brought 5.13 inches, an excess 

 above the average of nearly two inches, the temperature being 

 slightly above the average. The exhibition of strawberries at the 

 Rose Show was probably the finest ever made ; and, but for this 

 timely supply of rain, it would have been impossible to make this 

 excellent display. 



Of the twelve months, there were only three in which the quan- 

 tity of rain exceeded the average ; namely, June, October, and 

 Novembei". The deficiency of rain which, on the first of June, 

 amounted to 3.24 inches, was by the excess in that month reduced 

 to 1.32 inches, July increased the deficiency by .QQ., August by .74, 

 and September by 2.01, while in October there was an excess of 

 2.06, and in November of .25 ; making the deficiency for the year 

 2.42. 



It should be borne in mind that these observations were made 

 in the city of Boston ; and, while they aiford a means of accurate 

 comparison with former observations made in the same place, the 

 temperature a few miles out of the city may have differed so far as 

 to exert a materially different influence on the fruit-crop; Mr. 

 Baine's observations generally showing a temperature about four 

 degrees higher than that noted at the same time at the Cambridge 

 Observatory. At Salem, on the 28th of March, the mercury fell 

 to 20°, after remarkably mild weather the previous part of the 

 'month. The 29th was also cold; and on the 2d of April came 

 a snow-storm ; April 7 and 8 were summer-like days, the mer- 

 cury on the 8th rising to 88° ; while on the 11th of May we 

 were visited by a white frost, and on the 17th by another, but 

 less severe. The 29th as well as the 30th of this month was a 

 very warm day. Thus we see, that, wMle the winter was not re- 

 markable for great changes, the fluctuations of spring were unusu- 

 ally great ; and to this cause, we think, may, to some extent at least, 



