METEOKOLOGY OF 1897. 
AYitli Illustrative Dia^sfraiiis and Descriptions of 
Iiistruiiieiits. 
BY L. G. CARPENTER AND R. E. TRIMBLE. 
table of contents is to be found at the back. 
§1. The following bulletin gives the principal, though 
not all of the meteorological observations made at the Agri- 
cultural Experiment Station during 1897. 
§2. The peculiarities oftheclimate are such, that while 
its vagaries give less cause for comment in Colorado than 
in a more moist climate, nevertheless the general character- 
istics are well worthy of understanding, and necessary, 
indeed, for one whose operations may be affected thereb^c 
In general, facts given in tables are not easily apparent, 
hence the following tables have been retained until they 
could be accompanied by the diagrams here given. The 
tables with the diagrams, it is hoped, will show the course 
of the changes and reveal the general characteristics of the 
climate, and be more useful than as a mere record of the 
year. 
§3. The great variation in altitude inthestate, ranging 
from less than 4,000 feet at the eastern border to over 14,000 
feet at the summit of numerous peaks, causes a change in 
climate greater than between New Orleans and Winnipeg, 
and while Colorado east of the mountains has a mean tem- 
perature the same as New York, the temperature of the 
high peaks is lower than that of Spitzbergen. Therefore, 
when we speak of the climate of Colorado we have great 
differences to consider. Still, cultivated and irrigated Colo- 
rado is of relatively small range in elevation, and fortun- 
ately Fort Collins is as typical as any single place 
which could be selected. 
§4. Among the general characteristics of Colorado are: 
The small rainfall — from one-half to one-third of that 
east of the Mississippi. 
The dryness, indicated by the low relative humidity, 
promoting rapid evaporation, and causing an absence of 
