6 
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 :— 
