8 



were more than the usual number of clear days, and the per 

 cent of sunshine was also in excess of the average. The 

 rainfall was chiefly the result of two general storms, during 

 which the precipitation was very heavy. At Boston 3.70 

 inches of water fell from the 16th to the 18th inclusive, 

 which is an inch in excess of the normal rainfall of Septem- 

 ber at that point. The severe wind storm of the 12th was a 

 conspicuous feature of the weather of the month. The gale 

 was general and continued through a large portion of the 

 day. It attained a velocity at Boston of 60 miles per hour, 

 reaching its greatest force in the eastern parts of the State. 

 The preponderance of fair weather during the month was 

 favorable to outdoor pursuits but resulted in disastrous 

 forest fires and droughts in many sections of the State. 



In the circular to correspondents returnable to us Septem- 

 ber 22 the following questions were asked : — 



1. How does Indian corn compare with an average crop? 



2. Are rowen and fall feed up to the usual average? 



3. Has the average amount of fall seeding been done, and 

 what is its present condition ? 



4. How does the onion crop compare with a normal crop ? 



5. Are potatoes a normal crop in yield and quality? 



6. What is the prospect for root crops, celery and other 

 late market-garden crops ? 



7. How has the apple crop turned out? What was the 

 effect of the gale of the 12th, and what disposition has been 

 made of the fruit shaken from the trees? 



8. How have pears, peaches, plums, grapes and cranber- 

 ries turned out? 



Returns were received from 144 correspondents, from 

 which the following summary has been made : — 



Indian Corn. 

 Indian corn is generally rather more than an average crop 

 in western and central sections of the State. There are 

 some complaints of shortage in these sections, but these are 

 more than balanced by reports of unusually good crops. In 

 the eastern and south-eastern counties the crop is probably 

 not quite up to the average, though it approaches more nearly 



