146 Lake Maxinkuckee, Physical and Biological Survey 



an especially attention-arresting phenomenon like a rain or a 

 thunder shower, and is likely to be overlooked, especially in the 

 dead of winter in snowy weather. 



In considering frosts, especially first and last frosts, it is nec- 

 essary to distinguish between local and general frosts, or to be 

 specific, as to locality ; for there is a remarkable difference between 

 closely neighboring areas in regard to susceptibility to frost. The 

 low, flat, extensive peaty or mucky plains, and various sphagnous 

 bogs, such as Hawk's marsh, usually have their early fall frosts 

 from three weeks to a month before the upland, and quite possibly 

 the tender, succulent herbage that they produce is much more sus- 

 ceptible to the efi'ect of light frosts than the firmer growths of more 

 solid soil. Certain plants such as cucumber vines, touch-me-not, 

 fireweed, etc., often succumb and turn black at the touch of a frost 

 so light as to escape ordinary observation. The upland, just about 

 the lake, is especially favored by its freedom from killing frosts 

 in late spring and early autumn, and peaches and other delicate 

 orchard fruits, where planted and properly cared for, do exceed- 

 ingly well. 



The first autumnal frost noted about the lake in 1900 was on 

 October 17; the first in 1901 was November 23, the first in 1902 

 was September 14. In 1904, the first record was October 23, but 

 the lake had not been under observation for some time and there 

 were quite certainly frosts much before this. In 1906, a frost 

 was reported on August 28, but this was in the flat lowlands back 

 from the lake. The lake was under constant observation at the 

 time, and no frost, nor sign of any, was observed at the lake until 

 Ocotber 29. In 1907, again when the lake was under constant ob- 

 servation, the first frost was reported for the region on Septem- 

 ber 25, but none was actually seen at the lake until October 10. 

 The first frost in the fall of 1913 was noted on the morning of Sep- 

 tember 23, killing sweet potato vines and other delicate vegetation. 



Of the late frosts of spring there are fewer records. In the 

 spring of 1901, for which we have complete records, the last frost 

 occurred April 20. In 1903 there is a record of a frost on May 2. 



In the winter of 1900-1901, for which we have complete rec- 

 ords, 39 frosts were observed; 1 for October; 7 for November; 11 

 for December; 7 for January; 3 for February; 3 for March, and 

 7 for April. Frosts were liable to occur any clear, calm night dur- 

 ing the winter. In addition to the ordinary frost known every- 

 where, several modifications were common about the lake. Vapors 

 arising from airholes in the ice were often congealed at the edge 



