

39 



Last snow March 85 ice broke up January 27 ; frost came out of ground 

 February 1 ; last frost March 9 ; grass started February 1, but stopped 

 in a few days, not to commence again until March 1. Leaves of small 

 size could be found on briars February 29, but even April 8 there were 

 not leaves enough on any tree to make shade. The first flower was 

 found February 2, but no more until February 25, and by March 20 

 seven kinds only had bloomed. The first frogs were heard February 

 23. But few insects were noted before March 13. This is the record of 

 a strictly prairie country on the eastern edge of the Great Plains. 



Y. This section (from latitude 36° to latitude 38°) includes western 

 Kentucky, southern Missouri, and southern Kansas. Only Missouri re- 

 ported, and as follows: Last snow, April 8; last frost, April 9; firstgrass, 

 March 18; grass high enough for pasturing, April 1 ; grass plenty, April 

 27; first frog, March 2; first snake, March 23; and insects very numer- 

 ous by April 27. 



VI. This section (from latitude 38° to latitude 40°) includes south- 

 ern Illinois, central Missouri, and northern Kansas. This section sup- 

 plied an abundance of notes. The last snow of winter melted the first 

 week in February, but later snows came in Illinois and Missouri April 

 7 and April 22. The ice broke in the Mississippi river February 1, and 

 disappeared from ponds March 15. The first rain occurred March 17. 

 Grass started March 22, and was pretty well up April 6, on which day 

 an especially fast growth was made. Flowers appeared in the bot- 

 tom lands about March 20, and on the prairies March 30; while from 

 the high, dry lands of western Kansas, none were reported until April 4. 

 The height of the season, as indicated by the opening of the apple-blos- 

 soms, was April 29. The first leaves were reported March 25; first foli- 

 age, April 19 ; and the opening of the latest leaves May 10. Frogs ap- 

 peared in Illinois and Missouri March 15, in eastern Kansas March 26, 

 and in the western i>art of the State not until the 31st. Snakes were 

 reported March 22; toads about the same date, at which date also 

 clouds of insects suddenly appeared. 



VII. This section (from latitude 40° to latitude 42°) includes north- 

 ern Illinois, southern Iowa, and most of Nebraska. Here, also, snow 

 fell April 1, 7, and 8, and in the northern part on April 20. Ice left 

 the streams March 19 ; frost came out of the ground February 27, and 

 the last frost was recorded May 3. Grass started during the first week 

 in April; leaves a few days later (April 10), but real foliage did not 

 begin to unfold until May 10; the first flowers were seen April 2, and 

 apple trees were in bloom May 8; the first frogs were heard March 22, 

 but in Nebraska they were not recorded until April 11, which date prob- 

 ably is a little late. Snakes were first noted March 27; toads, in the 

 eastern part, April 20, and in the western part, May 2; insects may be 

 supposed to have appeared about March 26, but 'first' dates were given 

 all the way from March 17 to May 9. It is to be regretted that fuller 

 records were not received from the extreme western parts of the dis- 



