X BOAED OF AGRICULTURE. [Pub. Doc. 



blackberries. The rest of the month was milder. The 

 ground was not protected by snow during the cold spell, 

 but there was a slight covering durinsj the rest of the month. 



February was a rough, stormy month, with damaging 

 floods, heavy snows and much rainy and cloudy weather. 

 The heaviest rain and snow fall came on the 4th to 7th and 

 the 29th to March 3d. A severe cold wave prevailed on the 

 17th and 18th. On the night of the 6th-7th hurricane sig- 

 nals were hoisted in Boston for the first time in the history of 

 the Weather Bureau, and the wind reached a velocity of 

 over 60 miles an hour. 



March was typical of the month, though rougher and 

 more stormy than usual. The rainfall was above the normal 

 and the number of stormy days also in excess. The snow- 

 fall was more than usual and there was a fair snow covering 

 till near the end of the month. The changes in temperature 

 were rapid, but the daily ranges were not great. 



The first and last parts of April were comparatively cool, 

 with frequent frosts, but the middle of the month gave almost 

 unprecedented heat for the season. The rainfall was de- 

 ficient, and at the end of the month grass and grain were 

 feeling the effects of dry weather. The cool weather of the 

 first and last of the month held the fruit buds in check, with 

 good results. 



Unusually fair, warm and dry weather prevailed over the 

 greater part of Massachusetts during the month of May. 

 There were light frosts in eastern districts on the 20th, 21st 

 and 24th, but no damage was done. Only a trace of rain 

 fell during the first two-thirds of the month, and much grass 

 land sufiered severely. Insect pests were reported as very 

 plentiful. The frosts were not severe enough to damage 

 fruit buds to any extent. Apples blossomed from a week 

 to ten days earlier than the average. 



The month of June gave nearly normal weather conditions 

 over the greater part of the State. Many of the nights were 

 too cool for the best growth of corn, but no damaging frosts 

 occurred. High temperatures prevailed, but there was no 

 excessive heat. Moderate showers were well distributed, 

 and there was a general soaking rain on the 14th. At the 

 end of the month, however, the top of the soil was getting 



