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JOURNAL OF THE ROYAL HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Our Climate. 



Of our climate a book could be written. It is peculiar to 

 itself, and we do not understand it. More noticeable in the 

 spring-time than at any other period of the year, winds which 

 rise about noon every day rush through the Golden Gate, are 

 deflected against the mountains to the east, and produce the 

 delicious breezes of our summer days. Being sheltered by 

 mountains from the ocean, harsh winds occur but at the rarest 

 intervals ; fogs are practically unknown ; there are no sudden 

 changes of heat and cold ; blizzards, cyclones, and tornadoes are 

 only read of elsewhere ; severe thunderstorms are never ex- 

 perienced ; and the valley may be declared exempt from all 

 disagreeable climatic visitations, with the exception of an earth- 

 quake shock occasionally, but that not of a serious nature. 

 During the very few days in summer when the thermometer 

 runs the highest, the heat is rarely if ever oppressive, and 

 sunstrokes are unknown. 



Our nights are delightfully cool and pleasant. During the 

 winter months, while an occasional frost appears, and at rare 

 intervals a little ice is seen, snow is of such rare occurrence in 

 the valley that it becomes gleeful, and it is said to have occurred 

 but three times in twenty-five years, disappearing almost as 

 rapidly as it fell. This kind of weather, like the warm periods 

 of summer, lasts but a few days. Noonday is nearly always 

 warm and pleasant. 



In what we are pleased to call our " foothills," also known 

 as our " warm belt," the most delicate flowers bloom in the open 

 air throughout the year, and orange and lemon trees can be 

 seen laden with fruit in January. Thus do we enjoy a climate 

 that is unsurpassed, one that for health is unequalled, and 

 where the highest development of all the products of our soil is 

 brought about. 



The following table gives the temperature at San Jose (San 

 Hosay), which is the county town of the Santa Clara County, 

 for the years 1892 to 1895 inclusive : — 



