METEOKOLOGY. 



13 



success. The difference will be at once apparent, to farmers especially, as a mean temperature 

 below 32° prevents ploughing in winter and various other operations, and stops entirely the 

 growth of several winter crops, which, in the mild winters near the western coast, make 

 considerable progress. Grazing is excellent throughout, precluding the necessity of laying up 

 much supply of fodder. 



Even comparing the elevated interior with various places much further south, we find the 

 advantage still in our favor: 



which will not be exceeded in any part of the interior of Oregon, except near the Columbia, 

 on account of the greater elevation of all parts of that country. 



Having, as already shown, more moisture deposited during winter and spring than any point 

 in Nebraska, or near latitude 32° to 35°, and having a spring allowing of earlier cultivation 

 than the former, and even many parts of the latter region, there seems no climatic reason why 

 the interior of Washington Territory should not produce abundantly all that can be cultivated 

 in them, even without irrigation, or even more, as in the case of California. 



Dr. Logan considers February the first month of spring at Sacramento, and includes only 

 December and Januai-y as winter months. Adding to these half of February and half of 

 November, we may consider the three months thus formed the agricultural winter of the great 

 plain. Mr. Blodgett estimates it at one hundred and ten days for Laperai from November 11 

 to February 28, and seventy days at San Francisco. — (Climatology, -p. 500.) 



Of the climate west of the Cascade mountains little need be said in addition to what is 

 contained in Vol. I. 



It was then stated that along the coast the prevailing sea breezes from the southwest in 

 winter, and the northwest winds in summer, so modify the climate that the isothermal lines run 

 nearly parallel to the coast, making the climate of Puget Sound nearly as mild, and in summer 

 more agreeable than at San Francisco, while it corresponds closely with that of the western 

 coast of Europe in the same latitude, and especially that of the British islands. The effect of 

 this amelioration from the prevalence of the southwest sea breeze is felt in winter, as has been 

 here shown, as far east as Fort Union, on the Missouri, and has a constantly apparent effect on 

 all the country east to Fort Benton. 



The tables given in volume I show that the extremes both of summer and winter are from 

 5° to 10° less than in the interior, and that it is as abundantly supplied with moisture as any 

 part of the United States. 



Later records tend to show that the average amount at Steilacoom and Vancouver has been 

 over estimated, and from forty to forty-five inches annually would be nearer the truth. Most 

 of it falls during the colder months, and two or three of the warmest are usually quite dry, 

 thus favoring the gathering harvests. Some rain, however, falls during every month, especially 

 west of the Coast range, and no complaint of droiight can be made against the climate. From 



