154 
FLORIDA STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 
Cyclones, or lower pressure storms 
with a circulation spirally inward and 
contra-clockwise in this hemisphere, form 
along the periphery of anti-cyclones as the 
result of gravitation, and with the south¬ 
erly movement of a cold wave a cyclone 
frequently develops far in advance—pre¬ 
paring the way, as it were, for its future 
activity. In fact, cyclones seem to be a 
sort of sine qua non to the cold wave, es¬ 
pecially when their movements are rapid 
and their depth of such proportions as to 
present an inviting passage for the cold 
wave in its march to the North Atlantic. 
Generally the point of exit from this con¬ 
tinent, following in the wake of the low 
area storm. 
! THREE TRACKS FOLLOWED. 
Within our field of observation there is, 
as a rule, one of three tracks open to the 
cold wave in its eastward drift with the 
general circulation, and the leading factor 
in determining the section to be swept 
by it is the track of the last low area 
which is generally well defined. The en¬ 
ergy of a cold wave is wasted by opposi¬ 
tion and delay. And yet there are instan¬ 
ces where retarded movement seemed but 
to gather more life, and after a delay of 
twelve to twenty-four hours the great 
drama is resumed with its erstwhile se¬ 
verity. 
Sometimes cold waves seem to lose 
their potency by a lack of unity. Reach¬ 
ing the Mississippi Valley, they frequently 
divide, one part crossing the lower lake 
region, the other moving southward to 
the Gulf States, and thence northeast, as 
though in pursuit of the dismembered por¬ 
tion. 
The three paths traversed by cold 
waves, are, i: The track along the North¬ 
ern boundary of the United States to the 
Gulf of St. Lawrence. 2. The path south 
to about Colorado, thence east to the 
North Atlantic. 3. Southward along the 
eastern slope of the Rocky Mountains to 
Texas, thence northeast over the Atlan¬ 
tic coast states. Cold waves following 
the last track frequently dip southward 
to the Gulf, being drawn thither by a low 
area storm near the Gulf margin into 
which they pour their enormous mass of 
cold air. 
THE COLDEST YEAR. 
This condition prevailed in February, 
1899, when a disastrous cold wave over¬ 
spread the South and Southwest. 
In density of pressure, scope of influ¬ 
ence, prolongation of life, and untoward 
damage to man and beast, it stands un¬ 
rivaled on our records for three-quarters 
of a century, and possibly unexampled 
during the life of the Nation. The only 
cold wave approaching it in severity oc¬ 
curred in February, 1835. And after 
eliminating questionable factors, such as 
may arise from a lack of standard in¬ 
struments and proper exposure of the 
same, it is reasonable to conclude that the 
cold wave of February, 1899, represents 
the most extreme meteorological condi¬ 
tions with which the Southern section has 
been afflicted during the past century. 
Minimum temperatures over West and 
North Florida ranged from zero to mi¬ 
nus 2 degrees. 
At this time a high pressure area of 
great magnitude had overspread the 
British Provinces and Northwestern 
