xvi BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. [Pul). Doc. 



that this month has nearly always produced its quota of 

 warm weather, and the highest temperature recorded at 

 Boston in the history of this Bureau occurred on a Septem- 

 ber day, — the memorable "yellow day" of 1881, the 7th, 

 when the mercury rose to 102°. Following the culmination 

 of this September's hot wave, the temperature fell decidedly, 

 and on no day throughout the remainder of the month did it 

 rise beyond seasonable figures. On the other hand, begin- 

 ning with the 15th, the nights became quite cool, the mer- 

 cury often falling below 50. The first general frosts were 

 on the morning of the 22d. In many localities the frost 

 was destructive, notal)ly on the lowlands of the interior, but 

 in the eastern part of the State the damage was slight. 

 Light frosts were aoain o-eneral on the mornino; of the 28th. 

 These dates are believed to be about the average. 



The storm periods w^ere few, and there were no particu- 

 larly large rainfiills. The average number of days with an 

 appreciable amount of precipitation was less than ten. The 

 first decided storm of the month was that which commenced 

 on the evening of the 23d and ended before noon of -the 24th. 

 The bright and sunny days greatly outnumbered the cloudy 

 days, and the storms were of slight intensity as a rule. 

 Rain was needed to settle dusty roads, but there was no 

 lack of w^ater otherwise, owing to the excessive rains of the 

 preceding months. 



October was characterized by weather conditions which, in 

 the main, were of the best. The temperature was unusually 

 mild and the precipitation very deficient. At many places 

 the total monthly rainfall was less than one-half inch. The 

 total of rainy days which would interfere with out-door work 

 was but one, and the entire numljer of days with an appre- 

 ciable amount of rain averaged not more than three for the 

 entire State. 



The month came in with conditions strongly suggestive of 

 a return to summer. On the 1st the temperature rose above 

 85° in numerous localities, but late in the afternoon it began 

 to fall, and on the 2d its range was 30° or 40° lower. On 

 the 7th the mercury sought a lower range, and the cool wave 

 culminated on the morning of the 10th, with the temperature 

 varying from 25° in western and interior sections to slightly 



