24 
CLIMATE OF THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK, 
TABLE II. Comparison of mean temperature, and annual extremes of heat and cold, with the average of the 
State during the same years. 
FACTS OBSERVED 
Schenectady. 
6 years. 
Johns'nwn. 
12 years. 
Canajoharie. 
4 years. 
Fairfield. 
14 years. 
Utica. 
15 years. 
Whitesboro’. 
7 years. 
Mean temperature .... 
Mean annual maximum, 
Mean annual minimum, 
Mean annual range .... 
— 0°.01 
— 3.17 
0.00 
— 3.17 
— 1°.30 
+ 0.50 
— 3.25 
-f 3.75 
— 1°.01 
+ 3.00 
— 7.50 
+10.50 
— 2°. 98 
— 2.21 
— 4.14 
+ 1.93 
— 1°.00 
— 2.43 
— 3.50 
+ 1.07 
— 0°.98 
+ 2.80 
— 2.60f 
+ 5.40 
f On the 13th of February, 1837, the thermometer is reported to have fallen to — 32° ; and on the 31st of 
January, 1 "38, to —28° ; but as it did not fall lowei than — 16° on those days at any other place on the 
Mohawk, including Utica, which is but four miles distant, I conclude these to be errors, and have rejected them 
TABLE III. Comparison of the forwardness of the seasons, with the average of the State during the same years. 
FACTS OBSERVED. 
Schenectady. 
Johnstown. 
Canajoharie. 
Fairfield. 
Utica and 
Whitesboro’. 
Robins first seen. 
Days- 
+10* 
Days. 
“f* 1 
Days. 
— 2* 
Days- 
— 4 
Days. 
+ 2* 
Shadbush in bloom .. . 
+ 4* 
—13* 
• • • 
.... 
Peach do .... 
+11* 
.... 
.... 
Currants do .... 
— 3* 
+ 4 
+ 7 
0 
Plum do .... 
.... 
+ 2 
—13* 
+ 6 
+ 2f 
Cherry do _ 
— 5* 
+ 3 
_ 2 
+ o 
— 6 
Apple do .... 
— 3* 
+ 1 
— 4 
+ 7 
+ 3f 
Lilac do .... 
_ 2* 
— 7* 
+ 6* 
0 
Strawberries ripe. 
— 8* 
— 1 
— 3 
+ 5 
0 
Hay harvest commenced, 
.... 
+ 5* 
+ 8 
— 4 
Wheat harvest ditto .. . 
+ 2 
— 1 
First killing frost. 
- 5f 
— ii 
- If 
* The result of less than four years observation, f The result of observations for ten years or more. 
REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING TABLES. 
The low temperature of the valley of the Mohawk has been already referred to. It is 
more than 1° lower than the average of the State, and nearly 1° lower than is due to the 
latitude and elevation of the places of observation, with a tolerable degree of uniformity 
throughout. The elevation of Johnstown not being known, I could not include it in the 
comparison between the observed and calculated temperatures; but if I am not greatly 
deceived, it would, if included, render the difference still greater. I would not be too 
sanguine in the explanation I gave of the cause of this reduced temperature, but I am 
inclined to think it is the true one. In an article on the winds of the State already referred 
to, it is shown that while the mean direction of the wind throughout the State is 
S. 76° 54/ W., it is several degrees more northerly in the valley of the Mohawk generally. 
It is not so at Utica; but there is reason to believe that most of the winds that strike that 
place from the west, should be regarded as northwest winds.* To show the influence of 
See an article on the winds at Utica, in the Regents’ Report for 1829, pages 69 and 70. 
