DEPARTMENT OF METEOROLOGY 165 



The excessive rainfall of the past few years eontijiued till 

 AjDril 1, 1899. At that time the soil was thoroughly saturated 

 with moisture and all springs were running full. Then came a 

 sudden change^ and the last three months of the year were 

 abnormally dry, with a total precipitation of only 3.G inches. 

 Indeed this lack of rain was the chief feature of the weather 

 for the year, and had a marked effect upon farm crops, espe- 

 cially grass, the amount of hay harvested in this vicinity being 

 about one half of that of the previous year. Hoed crops on 

 heavy soil did not suffer seriously. 



The year was rather remarkable for a lack of extremes in 

 temperature, leaving the averas^e about normal. Xo excessive 

 hot spells in summer or cold in winter were registered. Xo 

 killing frost occurred till October 10, vegetation holding green 

 in general till that date. 



October was the month of largest rainfall, in striking con- 

 trast to the previous year when it was the driest month. Win- 

 ter started in early with a heavy snowfall in i!^ovember, but the 

 snow did not last for sleighing. The total snowfall was about 

 the same as for the previous year. Thunder storms were 

 numerous through the summer season, but no remarkable 

 storms of any kind were registered either in summer or winter. 



IT. Agricultural Exgixeerixg 



The college steam drill has been in use twice during the year 

 and these occasions were utilized for class instruction in road 

 building. Practical instruction was also given in the use of 

 the derrick. A survey was made by the class in roads with 

 the aid of the grade level and chain, of a proposed change of 

 location of a public road for the improvement of its grade. 



Through the kindness of the Climax Eoad Machine Com- 

 pany, a complete plant for elevating and screening gravel was 

 placed at the disposal of the writer for experimental road work. 

 The machine has been set up at the gravel bank near the reser- 

 voir. It was found necessary to make changes in the screen- 

 ing apparatus in order to obtain the best results, and experi- 

 ments are still going forward which later will be reported in 

 detail in bulletin form. 



