Bostan Transcript
SATURDAY, APRIL 8, 1893.
THE RECORD OF MARCH, 1893
Remarkably Consistent Weather - A March
Without an Equinoctial.
Spring entered upon service under dis-
couraging circumstances, with arrearages of
temperature and a great body of snow left on
its hands by its predecessor. Immediate
change of policy and intemperate heat would
have wrought freshet and devastation, but
March accepted the situation. It is seldom
one has a good word for this much-berated
month, but the March of 1893 cer-
tainly deserves credit. Restraining its 
normal impetuosity, it has managed
by gradual liquidation and absorption
to get rid of the snow, minimize the
frost, and put the ground in good condition
for April showers and sunshine. Our mills
and bridges have not been carried off nor our
fruit buds prematurely swollen. It might be
characterized as even a little tame-its lion
and lamb held equally in abeyance. Even
the time-honoured "equinoctial" failed to
make its appearance, though it sent a smart
premonitory thunder-shower to keep us on
the lookout. Snow-falls in this section were
exceedingly light and gentle. The uniform
mediocrity that marked the winter months
has been consistently maintained-the mer-
cury not having reached 50[degrees] since Nov 18,
an unprecedented record. March, like its
immediate predecessors, has fallen below the
average. We quote figures (in degrees) -
Maximum...........................................47
Minimum............................................  8
Mean temperature, 7 A.M..................24.83
Mean temperature, 2 P.M..................35.9
Mean temperature, 9 P.M..................27.74
Mean temperature of the month........29.49
Mean temperature since 1852...........30.9
Warmest March since 1852 (1871)...39.88
Coldest March since 1852 (1872).....24.35
  This phenomenally cold March of 1872
destroyed evergreen trees throughout the
country and did much other damage. On
the 5th the mercury stood below zero
throughout the day, with a most piercing
wind, and not a bird appeared till the 28th
of the month.
  By what instinct or prescience the birds
graduate their coming is a perennial mys-
tery. This year they appeared with the first
breath of spring, March 9, as if summoned by
special messenger. Robins and bluebirds
are here in considerable number, and many
flocks of black-birds. Wild geese are al-
ready wending their way northward, a large
and most vociferous flock flying directly over
my head on Sunday evening. Frogs are
poking their heads out of the mud, and
pussy-willow buds glisten along the road-
side.                                                A.M.
  April 1, 1893.