REMARKS 



The weather for September continued fair, warm and dry. The 

 1.91 inches of precipitation was the least since 1940, and more than 

 half was recorded by the storm of the 9th. While measurable rain- 

 fall occurred on o days, only 3 days are recorded as cloudy, the 

 remainder being fair or' clear. The mean temperature for the 

 month was 2' degrees above normal at 63.7, and only about 3/3 the 

 normal heating load accumulated in the month. The highest tem- 

 perature, 91 degrees on the 11th, is the maximum for the month 

 recorded 5 times in the past 10 years. The lowest temperature, 

 34 degrees on the ITth, did not produce frost at the station, al- 

 though higher elevations to the east received their first frost of 

 the season, killing most gardens and susceptible field crops. There 

 were no high winds during the month. 



W. H. Thies, Extension Professor of Horticulture, con- 

 tributes the following report : "A relatively warm, dry September 

 has shown some interesting effects on farm and garden crops. In 

 Amherst, the official low temperature for the month was 34 de- 

 grees, and even in lower areas frost damage was light. This made 

 it possible to harvest undamaged tomatoes, green beans, grapes, 

 etc., as late as October 1. Another feature of the September wea- 

 ther was its dryness, with less than half the normal rainfall during 

 the month. This has given farmers a good opportunity to harvest 

 corn, potatoes, fruit crops, and on some farms, a late cutting of 

 alfalfa. 



Apples have been rather slow in coloring although they have 

 hung on the trees fairly well. In fact, a considerable percentage 

 of the Mcintosh crop was harvested during the last week in Sep- 

 tember. This is about a week later than in some seasons past. 

 Apple growers will find it necessary to maintain high humidity 

 in storage for at least two reasons. Boxes were very dry at har- 

 vest time which means that the wood will absorb water from the 

 apples. Furthermore, there was more russetting of fruit this sea- 

 son and as a result more shriveling may be expected unless a 

 relative humidity of at least 90% is maintained." 



