REMARKS 



The weather during October was warm and dry, and had very 

 little wind. The mean temperature was 54.7 degrees compared 

 to a normal of 50.5 degrees. During the first half of the month 

 the temperature was near normal but was well above normal in 

 the second half. While the mean temperature was considerably 

 above normal, this record was exceeded in 1900, 1^13, 1920 and 

 1938. In 1920 the mean temperature for October was 56.4 de- 

 grees. The highest temperature in October this year was 84 

 degrees on the 6th and 7th. The lowest temperature was 28 de- 

 grees on the 22nd. This was the first frost of the season, although 

 there was light frost earlier in nearby locations. At the end of 

 the month there has not been a killing frost. The normal date 

 for the first frost is September 21. 



The domestic heating load for the month was 326 degree-days. 

 The total heating load for September and October is 416 degree- 

 days while the normal for this period is 605 degree-days. 



The total precipitation for the month was 1.51 inches, which 

 is 1.78 inches less than the normal for October. 



The total wind movement was only 2914 miles for the month, 

 while the normal is 4074 miles. Only twice since 1889 has there 

 been less wind in October. 



Dr. J. K. Shaw, research pomologist, gives the following final 

 report on the crop season of 1916: "The crop season of 1946 

 may be said to end with October. In many ways it was remark- 

 ably like that of 1945. The v/eather was unseasonably warm in 

 late winter and early spring, then cooler with killing tempera- 

 tures followed by seasonable temperatures for the rest of the 

 summer. Rainfall was low in March and early April both years 

 and again in June and July, follov/ed by more adequate amounts 

 ending with dry Octobers. For three successive years the fruit 

 crop has been injured more or less severely by spring killing of 

 fruit buds. The writer remembers only one spring in the previous 

 38 years when severe killing occurred in Massachusetts. Three 

 frosty years in succession sets a record that will not be equaled 

 for a long time. If we get frost damage in 1947 it will be most 

 remarkable. 



"Apple" scab caused much damage to scab susceptible vari- 

 eties in both years because of wet weather in May and June. 

 The carryover of the disease on fallen leaves is heavy. Unless 

 we have a dry May and June in 1947, a most thorough and skill- 

 ful control program will be necessary to control the disease." 



