REMARKS 



The month was the coldest March since 1941 and continued the 

 cold weather ushered in by the abrupt change which occurred Feb- 

 ruary 20. The maximum of 65° was only a moderate highest tempera- 

 ture for the month, while the low of — 9° was well below the mean of 

 +6.1. The heating load of 1085 degree days was also the highest 

 since the same month of 1941, while the cumulative total of 5468 re- 

 mained below the normal expected at the month's end. 



High winds occurred on three days of the month with e maximum 

 velocity of 40 mph. Total wind movement however, at 5083, was 

 below the mean of 5764. Precipitation at only 2.67" was more than 

 an inch below the mean for the month and. may be expected to have 

 its effect on seasonal deficiency shown more fully after crops are 

 planted. Thunder and Ughtning was recorded on both the 8th and 

 the 28th, the two milder days near each end of the m(jnth. 



W. H. Thies, Extension Professor of Horticulture, contributes 

 the following report: "A survey of Massachusetts peach orchards re- 

 veals severe damage from cold weather. All of the peach buds in 

 some orchards have apparently been destroyed while a scattering of 

 uninjured buds is found in a few varieties. In a Worcester County 

 orchard examined April 5, about 10% of the buds on one odd variety 

 were alive. Buds of other varieties showed brown centers. Several 

 growers have reported enough live buds here and there to suggest a 

 very light crop this season. 



• In the University orchard, J. S. Bailey reports no live buds at all 

 on Elberta, Halehaven, Golden Jubilee and many other varieties. A 

 few live buds were observed on the Greensboro variety. 



The present peach situation is not surprising in view of the wide 

 variation in winter temperatures, and the fact that we are near the 

 northern limit of the peach belt. Peaches are among the most tender 

 of the fruits grown in this area. But if peach growers f re able to 

 harvest a good crop three years out of four under our climatic condi- 

 tions the gamble in setting a peach orchard is justifiable provided a 

 better than average soil and site are' selected." 



