210 BOTANICAL GAZETTE | SEPTEMBER 
(1,075", 328™) in the five years 1895~9 the highest point reached 
by the thermometer was 110° F. (43° C.) and the lowest 23° F. 
(—s" GC) At Little Bear Valley, 5,140° (1,960"), in the 
adjacent mountains, distant about 12 miles (20*™) in an air line, 
the extremes during the same years were 93° and —2° F. (34 
and —19C.).’°* That is, a temperature was reached in summer 
in the valley 17° above that of the mountain, while the winter 
temperature lacked 21° of falling solow, At Big Bear Valley, 
6,500* (1,981™) a temperature of —14° F.(—25.5° C.) has been 
observed," frosts occur in midsummer, and ice sometimes forms 
on an August night. No observations have been made at greater 
altitudes, but it is evident that at 10,000 or 12,000" (3,000—3,600™) 
very low temperatures must be reached. These lofty summits 
are white in the winter months, and on their northern slopes the 
snow fields often linger late into summer. After a winter of 
unusual accumulations some shrunken remains may even persist 
into a second season. Even at altitudes as low as 6,000—7,000* 
(1,830~-2,130™) there are sheltered cafions where snow banks yet 
linger at midsummer. 
Contrary to common opinion, recorded observations establish 
the fact that lower temperatures are reached at stations in the 
desert region than at places having the same altitude on the sea- 
ward side of the mountains. A great difference is shown also 
at the other extremity of the scale. The highest temperatures 
recorded on the coast are 85°-100° F. (30-38° C.); further 
back from the sea 100°-112° F. (28-44° C.) is reached; but at 
stations in the deserts records of 115°—-128° F. (46—53° C.) have 
been made."4 
The annual precipitation is very unequal in amount, not only 
in the different regions, but in the same region in different years. 
As an example of yearly variability the rainfall at Los Angeles 
7?From the Records of Dr. A. K. Johnson. 
72 Records of Arrowhead Reservoir Co. ™ Records of the Bear Valley Co. 
*Mean annual snowfall at Little Bear Valley 1895-9, 73 (1,854™™); greatest 
single snowfall, 39" (g990™™"). Records of Arrowhead Reservoir Co. 
*3 At Victor, in the Mojave Desert, altitude 2,713 * (828™) killing frosts occur in 
August. 
™ At Mammoth Tank, July, 1887, 128° F.; July, 1884, 126° F. 
