366 T. S. Parvin on the Climate of Iowa. 
there was none; the mean is 1°79, showing an excess for the last 
February of 2°55 inches. 
n 1850 and 1852 there was no snow in February, while in 
1956 there fell 12-00 a the mean being only 5:00 inches. 
e River low and clos 
omer eane winds in J ibaa and February, northwest and 
ere) —The most unpleasant month of the year, character- 
ized in this region, by high, chilly winds, from a western direc- 
tion. The frost which aca penetrates to a depth of from 20 
to 25 inches, as it escapes, leaves the earth soft and wet, and the 
roads are soon cut up by the travel and rendered almost im- 
passa 
The 1 mean temperature of this month in 1856, is 25°80° or 
7-97 less than the mean, which is 33°77°. This month of the 
ast year, like the two preceding, is the coldest of the past sever! 
years. In 1854 the mean tem mperatu ure was 39°86°. 
There was but little rain in March, only 25 inch, ms mean 
being 2°61 inches, and maximum 8°60, in 1852. 
now has fallen every year in March, “omen 1852, the n maxi- 
mum being in 1855, 650 inches; the mean is 2°04 inches, while 
in the last March, there were 8°60 seabines: 
The Mississippi River opened on the 29th, havi ing been closed 
ane fe. ng the average period of its opening for — 
past is the first of March, and the average length of time 
Goned a is sixty days. River still low 
April—This is practically in this ta the first spring —— 
as the winter “drags its slow length along” so far into its p: 
cessor that but little out-door work can be done. The range of 
its mean temperature is from 41-22°, in 1850, to 53-93°, in 1855, 
that of 1856 being 49-37°, or 2-27 above the mean of 47°10°. 
In this month the Feat trees generally put forth their blossoms. 
and the birds of song make their welcome return 
In April 1850-51 there fell snow, in the latter year to the 
depth of 6:00 inches. The mean total of rain is 454 inches; 
that of ’56 being 3 “44 inches, or 1-10 less than the mean. The 
ee is from 1°76, in 1854, the dry season, to 11:80, in 1853. 
e melting snow did not materially raise the river, which 
continued at a low stage. 
It was now that an inspection of the fruit trees showed how 
severe was the injury inflicted upon them by the winter. 
The wood, which preserved its natural color, rev vealed by the in- 
cision of the pruning knife an entire absence of sap and vitality ; 
eet ake intel trees were split open in many cases by the action 
vn —This and ences are the most rps ao ee 
onths of the year. 
