REMARKS 



The weather during May was cold and wet, delaying planting 

 and in general producing a late spring in spite of the warm 

 weather in late March and early April. The mean temperature 

 for May was 54.1 degrees, the normal mean being 57.1 degrees. 

 This is the coldest May since 1927 and in only five years has there 

 been a colder May since this station was established in 1889. 

 The lowest temperature was 31 degrees on the 11th. This was 

 the last frost at the observatory although there were frosts on low 

 ground in Amherst on the 25th. The heating load for May was 

 338 degree-days, the normal being 267 degree-days. The total 

 heating load for the season is now 6559 degree-days, the normal 

 to the end of May being 6778 degree-days. 



The rainfall for the month was 6.45 inches compared to a nor- 

 mal of 3.60 inches. Rain fell on 20 days during the month. This 

 heavy rainfall in May has been exceeded only twice since 1889, 

 the last being in 1931 when 7.44 inches fell. An inch of snow fell 

 on the 10th and 11th. There were 190 hours of bright sunshine, 

 the normal for May being 252 hours. 



Dr. J. K. Shaw reports on the progress of vegetation as follows: 

 "The weather during May continued cool with an excess of rain- 

 fall. These conditions assure a good hay crop but were not very 

 favorable for fruit. Yet the blossoms not killed by the April freeze 

 set rather well so that a small and spotty crop is in sight. Pros- 

 pects are better than was feared a month ago. Plums are very 

 light but pears and peaches seem to have set good crops. The 

 apple crop over the state is variable, some orchards having a 

 good prospect of a crop and in others a total failure is indicated. 

 Of course, many orchards are between these extremes. The com- 

 mon estimate of half a crop seems reasonable. Frequent rainy 

 periods have favored apple scab infection so that orchards not 

 thoroughly sprayed may produce many scabby apples. Those 

 well sprayed at proper times are quite free from scab. While 

 frost killed the very early strawberry blossoms, conditions so far 

 have favored a good crop from the limited plantings made last 

 year. The soil is now well supplied with moisture, and if dry, 

 sunny weather prevails during the ripening period, a good crop 

 should be harvested. The month closes with a cold night, remind- 

 ing us that it is still possible to have further frost injury." 



