No. 4.] WEATHER AND ITS INFLUENCE. 47 



having been freed from its moisture and impurities in the 

 upper air. The anticyclone is oiten ushered in with high 

 north-west winds, and if in winter, a sharp cold wave. 

 Then the wind decreases, and as the centre of the area 

 spreads over a district the temperature at night is carried 

 very low because of the free radiation of heat. It is under 

 these conditions that marked inversions of temperature 

 occur, and one riding across the country at night will find 

 the cold much more intense in the valleys than upon the hill- 

 sides. It is in the clear, still air that frosts are to be feared 

 in the spring and fall, instead of in the windy front of the 

 anticyclone. 



The cyclonic areas in the United States move in three 

 general paths. One class form in the north-west and pass 

 down over the Lakes and the St. Lawrence valley ; the 

 second class form somewhere along the eastern slope of the 

 Rockies, or else move over the mountains, and, passing 

 farther to the south, move off the coast to the south of our 

 district ; Avhile the third class come from the south and pass 

 along the coast to the east of us, or else move across our 

 district from south to north. The much-dreaded West India 

 hurricanes belono; to the latter class, and much damas^e is 

 often done by them. Of all the storms in the United States, 

 fully 80 per cent pass along one of these paths, and of course 

 give our district part of their weather conditions. And as 

 these cyclones occur on an average of every three or four 

 days, one can readily see why we have weather in such 

 variation and quantity. 



The alternately clear and cloudy skies, with frequent show- 

 ers, except in rare instances of drought ; the varied tempera- 

 ture, the equable distribution of precipitation through the 

 months and year, — all conduce to the rapid and hardy 

 growth of our crops. Our seasons are short, but the sun's 

 rays come easily through the comparatively dr}' atmosphere, 

 and crops grow quickly, and in the alternating warm and 

 cool air they attain a closeness of grain not excelled else- 

 where. The grains are bright and solid, the vegetables crisp 

 and well formed as they can only be with rapid growth, and 

 our fruit is unsurpassed in fine flavor and keeping qualities. 



In considering the matter of weather or climate and crops, 



