6 



deficient, and at the end of the month grass and grain were 

 feeling the effects of dry weather. The cool weather of the 

 first and last of the month held the fruit buds in check, with 

 good results. 



Unusually fair, warm and dry weather prevailed over the 

 greater part of Massachusetts during the month of May. 

 There were light frosts in eastern districts on the 20th, 21st 

 and 24th, but no damage was done. Only a trace of rain 

 fell during the first two-thirds of the month, and much grass 

 land suffered severely. Insect pests were reported as very 

 plentiful. The frosts were not severe enough to damage 

 fruit buds to any extent. Apples blossomed from a week to 

 ten days earlier than the average. 



The month of June gave nearly normal weather conditions 

 over the greater part of the State. Many of the nights were 

 too cool for the best growth of corn, but no damaging frosts 

 occurred. High temperatures prevailed, but there was no 

 excessive heat. Moderate showers were well distributed, 

 and there was a general soaking rain on the 14th. At the 

 end of the month, however, the top of the soil was getting 

 dry. There were practically no damaging winds or local 

 storms to injure the fruit. 



Along the coast the mean temperature for July was below 

 the normal, and the temperature range was small. The rain- 

 fall was below the normal along the coast, but was in excess 

 in the interior. There was a good deal of foggy and cloudy 

 weather, and the number of rainy days was more than usual. 

 The high wind on the 16th did some damage to corn, grain 

 and fruit in western counties. The month was a poor one for 

 harvesting, but a splendid one for the growth of all field crops. 



August opened with plenty of heat, sunshine and moisture. 

 Unusually hot and sultry weather continued over the second 

 week of the month, and most crops made a very rapid 

 growth. The last half of the month was somewhat cooler 

 and dryer, with plenty of sunshine. There was a marked 

 absence of severe local storms and no continuous rains. 

 Streams and wells got very low, and the subsoil was very 

 dry. The month was warmer and drier than the normal. 



Light frosts occurred during September on several dates 

 in valleys and on level plains, but there was no general kill- 



