REMARKS 



May weather was colder and wetter than normal but neither 

 as wet nor as cold as May, 1945. 



The mean temperature during the month was 55.8 degrees, 

 the normal being 57. 1 degrees. May of last year was 54. 1 degrees. 

 The lowest temperature was 30 degrees on the 3rd. The 3rd and 

 4th are the only days on which the temperature fell below freez- 

 ing. The highest temperature was 86 degrees on the 25th. The 

 domestic heating load was 298 degree-days, the normal being 

 267 degree-days. The heating load for the season is now 6675 

 degree-days, the normal for the year to the end of May being 

 6778 degree-days. 



The total precipitation for the month was 5.41 inches as com- 

 pared to a normal of 3.60 inches. The rainfall in May, 1945 was 

 6.45 inches. The precipitation since January 1st is now 15.41 

 inches, while the normal for this period is 17.45 inches. Rain 

 fell on 15 days. Rain fell on 20 days in May, 1945. There were 

 254 hours of bright sunshine which is two hours higher than 

 normal. Relative humidity was 54.8 percent, the normal being 

 60.7 percent. 



Dr. J. K. Shaw comments as follows on the progress of vege- 

 tation: "The early part of May this year was cooler than May, 

 1945 and the relatively slower development of vegetation of 

 April continued. Full bloom of apples occurred dviring the first 

 week in May, about two weeks ahead of normal. As in 1945, 

 the blooming period was much longer than usual. At the end 

 of May, development was fully back to normal. All tree fruits 

 produced a remarkably heavy bloom. 



"Cold injury during April varied in different orchards from 

 none to severe. There were three mornings in May when the 

 temperature was dangerously low. These were May 3, 4 and 9. 

 On May 3 there was some further injury to apple blossoms. We 

 can, at the end of the month, feel fairly sure that the fruit crop 

 is past danger from cold. Contrary to common belief, peaches 

 are more resistant to spring cold than apples and a good crop 

 is probable; there was little or no killing from mid-winter cold. 

 The apple crop will be much larger than that of 1945 and may 

 be up to normal. The set of fruit of some varieties is rather poor 

 and there may be further loss as the 'June drop' is not yet com- 

 pleted. 



"Rainfall in May was heavy and a good crop of strawberries 

 is assjared if wet weather during June does not cause the berries 

 to rot. The blueberry crop was somewhat reduced by cold." 



