220 



Agkki i.ti rax Manual 



of the fruit belt. General agriculture is extensively followed 



throughout the entire county, which stands second only to Rensse- 

 laer in the production of rye. 



The manufacture of paper, cotton and woolen fabrics, vegetables, 

 extracts, and iron is largely carried on. The largest knitting mills 

 are located at Stockport, Kinderhook, Philmont, and Hudson, 

 while the woolen mills are located at Stockport. Stockport is also 

 the seat of a wrapping paper manufacturing industry, as are also 

 Chatham, East Chatham, Valatie, Maiden, Mellenville, and 

 Maiden Bridge. 



CLIMATE AND RAINFALL 



In Columbia County the meteorological station is located at 

 Chatham, at an elevation of 470 feet. The present observer is 

 M. R. Tank. 



Tin' average dates for the last killing frost in spring and the 

 first in fall are May 11 and October 2, respectively, giving a 

 growing season of 144 days. 



The following table covers records extending from 1904 to 

 1918: 



Records of Temperature and Precipitation at Chatham 



January 

 February. . . 



March 



April 



May 



June 



July 



August 



September. . 

 October. . . . 

 November. . 

 December . . 



Year 





Temperature 







Precipitation 





Highest 



Lowest 





Amount in 24 



Aver- 

 age 



maximum 



minimum 



inches 



hours 



Degrees 



Year 



Degree? 



Year 



Greatest 



record, 

 inches 



Year 



23.5 



65 



1916* 



—18 



1909 



2.50 



1.20 



1905 



21.6 



57 



1918 



—19 



1918 



2- 70 



1.93 



1906 



33.6 



81 



1907* 



—9 



1916 



2.99 



1.48 



1916 



46.2 



90 



1915 



16 



1911 



4.10 



1.48 



1914 



57.4 



96 



1911 



24 



1907 



3.31 



2.26 



1918 



64.8 



95 



1908 



34 



1913 



4.34 



2 44 



1909 



71.3 



103 



1911 



42 



1912 



3.95 



2.85 



1915 



68.4 



100 



1918* 



38 



1912 



4.31 



2.71 



1911 



61 7 



95 



1914 



20 



L914 



3.67 



2 55 



1916 



51.2 



85 



1905 



20 



1904 



3 62 



2.77 



1907 



38.0 



71 



1900 



*8 



1917 



2.16 



1.20 



1907 



26.4 



64 



1914* 



—20 



1917 



2.93 



2.05 



1907 



47.0 



103 



1911 



—20 



1917 



40.58 



2.85 



1915 



Snow, 

 average 



depth 

 in inches 



9.8 

 12.9 

 11.2 



3.3 



T. 



T. 



3.3 



10.7 



51.2 



* Also earlier years. 



