METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. m 



August 



31. The most severe shower occurred at 10:15 p. m., that has visited 

 this locality for many years. The very elements of a furious 

 and terrible storm seemed to be at war with each other ; rain 

 poured in torrents ; lightnings flashed continuously ; an unceas- 

 ing glimmering of the electric fluid lighted n^ the horizon ; the 

 wind, let loose from all restraint, dashed and lashed the falling- 

 waters to a foam ; distant, hoarse, and deep-muttering thunder 

 made bass music for the storm. 



September. 



Very warm, and a great excess of rain compared with corresponding- 

 months of other years. 



October 



1. Frost ; first of the autumn. 



19. Eclipse of the sun in a. m., dark and cloudy during- the time ; a 



gale of wind in p. m. 

 28. Slight snow squalls. 



November. 



A very pleasant month ; but little rain. 



December 



14. River frozen over for the first time of the season. 



15. Skating on the canal. 



20. Snow in p. m. ; a northeaster, the western border of the storm 



only reaching this vicinity ; it was three days in forming, and 

 was one of those oblong storms in this region that frequently 

 occur in the winter and spring. 



The yearly meteorological phenomena, as they regard temperature, 

 amount of rain fallen, and barometrical pressure^ were the average of 

 other years ; but the distribution of rain and warm weather was very 

 unusual. July and August were very cold ; September very warm — so 

 much so as to be exceptional to the general laws of temperature for the 

 months. They were very rainy — September having a greater amount 

 of precipitation than any corresponding month of which we have record. 



The result of this unfavorable weather had a disastrous effect upon 

 the agricultural communities in securing the hay and wheat crops ; much 

 of it was damaged, and but a very little hay was secured without injur3^ 



