ALLISON — NOVA SCOTIAN METEOEOLOGY. 307 



In looking at total precipitation by the month, although the 

 same months in different years vary very much, a tolerably long 

 series — say of 11 years — gives a fair idea of the most wet and dry 

 periods of the year ; and in the fourteen complete years from which 

 I now can calculate, the Precipitation of Nova Scotia can be dis- 

 tributed with sufficient accuracy. January, October, and November 

 give very nearly the same results — about 5.5 inches — and are close- 

 ly followed by February with an average of 5.4. April, December, 

 March and May give 4.8, 4.6, 4.5, and 4.2, respectively. The 

 normal fall of September is 3.9, of August 3.5, of June 3.4, and 

 July is decidedly the driest month, with 2.9. It will be at once 

 noticed how comparatively dry our Summer is ; and that, dividing 

 the year into two equal periods, the six months from 30th Septem- 

 ber to 31st March, yield 30 inches out of the normal annual 53, 

 leaving 23 only for the warmer months. Or, going farther, and 

 taking the four Winter months of December, January, February, 

 and March, we find twenty inches in them ; twenty inches also in 

 the four Spring and Autumn months of April, May, October, and 

 November, and only about thirteen during the remaining third, 

 June, July, August, and September. Of the whole yearly preci- 

 pitation, about 44.5 inches fall as rain, and the melted snow mea- 

 sures about 8.5 inches more, being the product of seven feet fallen 

 frozen. The above figures are most applicable to Halifax and the 

 Atlantic coast, but the yejirly amount does not differ materially from 

 this on the Gulf or Bay Shores, or Inland. The differences by- 

 season in the interior are a slightly heavier rain fall in Summer, 

 and a little greater snow depth in winter, balanced by not quite so 

 much rain water in Spring and Autumn. I find that the years of 

 most snow and rain make the soil of Nova Scotia most productive, 

 and are most satisfactory to our farmers, provided that the hay- 

 making and harvest seasons are not wet. There are good reasons 

 for both of these conclusions. A thick layer of snow from the 

 beginning of December to the end of March, prevents the frost 

 from striking very deeply into the ground ; the ammonia of the rain 

 and melting snow, combining with the salts of the soil, enables it 

 to nourish the coming roots and grass ; and the continuance of good 



