538 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



METEOROLOGY. 



The meteorological observations during the year 1886 have 

 been carried out on the same general plan as was followed in 

 1885. The system is essentially the same as that recommended 

 to voluntary observers of the U. S. Signal Service. (See Third 

 Annual Report.) The relative humidity has, however, been ob- 

 tained only during the growing season ; it was found impracti- 

 cable with our present facilities to run the "wet bulb" 

 thermometer during the winter months. Our monthly records 

 of observations have ])een forwarded regularly at the earliest 

 possible date to the chief Signal Office during the entire year. 



The importance of weather observations to the Station itself, 

 in connection with its field experiments, cannot be overesti- 

 mated. The summaries, as they appear from time to time in 

 our bulletins and annual reports, are not without some interest 

 to the farmers throug-hout the State. For the benefit of the 

 farmers in our vicinity a more complete system of flag signals 

 to indicate the expected changes in the weather will be intro- 

 duced durino^ the comino^ season. 



The more conspicuous local meteorological phenomena of the 

 l)ast year (1886) consist in the early opening of the spring, the 

 even distribution of the rainfall throughout the o;rowino; season, 

 the absence of severe early or late frosts, and the abundant 

 rainfiill during the autumn months. Only once during the 

 summer, the first half of July, did the drought become of 

 sufficient severity to injure vegetation, and then but slightly. 

 The first important snowfall of the year occurred January 9 

 (seven inches). Good sleighing was noticeable only at inter- 

 vals throughout the remainder of the winter. The effect of two 

 "ice storms," so injurious to orchards and shade trees through- 

 out the central part of the State, was not felt here. The heavy 

 rainfall of February 10 to February 14 did no material damage. 

 The total snowfall for the months of January, February and 

 March was 23.0 inches; on April 3, 0.5 inches of snow fell; 

 from the 5th to the 7th occurred a rain and snow storm of con- 



