No. 4.] REPORT OF SECRETARY. xv 



Thunder-storms were frequent, but not more so than natur- 

 ally to be expected at this season. 



The first week gave warm and good growing weather, with 

 less rain and abundant sunshine. The fair days greatly out- 

 numbered the foul. 



The second week was rather more unfavorable in all but 

 the eastern and south-eastern counties. In the interior and 

 the western counties showers were quite numerous. There 

 were only three days that brought even one-fourth of the 

 usual amount of sunshine. In the eastern districts, the 

 week, generally speaking, was favorable, as the precipitation 

 was very small. 



The third week opened with thunder-storm conditions. 

 The storms on the 15th were apparently the most general, 

 and in certain localities they assumed violent proportions. 

 The 18th again saw electrical disturbances in various parts 

 of the State. In fact, the week brought overmuch rain, and 

 the continued wet weather proved a serious drawback to 

 Ifarming operations. The night temperatures were low and 

 unseasonable, falling l)elo\v 50° on several occasions. 



The week beffinnins: with the 22d ao-ain witnessed thunder- 

 storm conditions in the ascendency, and the storms which 

 occurred on this date kept good the character of the summer 

 for unusual doings. The first steady and general rainstorm 

 of the month was on the 24tli, occasioned by a storm which 

 moved up the Atlantic coast and centred off" our southern 

 coast on the morning of that day. It gave a large rainfall 

 at Boston, in the course of which more than one-half inch 

 fell in twenty minutes. The 23d and 24th were days of 

 cool temperatures, but the remainder of the week was warm 

 and seasonable, with very pleasant skies. 



Probably the most important characteristic of the month 

 of September was the hot wave which set in on the 9th and 

 lasted through the 11th, with maximum temperatures rang- 

 ing in the 90's. The warmest day was the 10th, when the 

 mercury rose as high as on any day during the summer, and, 

 in fact, the heat was terrific, but fortunately it was not ac- 

 companied by excessive humidity. It is commonly sup- 

 posed that these September hot waves are a development of 

 recent years, but the records of the Weather Bureau indicate 



