
252 STORRS AGRICULTURAL EXPERIMENT STATION. 
METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 
BY Of 3. PHELPS) 

The meteorological observations made at the Station during 
1897 have been similar to those of past years. ‘The Station 
equipment consists of the ordinary instruments for observing 
temperatures, pressure of the air, humidity, rainfalland snowfall, 
uniform with those used by voluntary observers for the United 
States Weather Service. In addition to the records made at 
Storrs, the rainfall for the summer season (May. 1—October 31) 
has been recorded by quite a number of farmers in coOperation 
with the Station. 
The total precipitation for the year (53.0 inches), as meas- 
ured at Storrs, was considerably above the average yearly pre- 
cipitation for this State, and was the highest since this Station 
began its observations in 1888. ‘The average annual precipita- 
tion for Connecticut, as near as can be estimated from observa- 
tions covering periods of from five to thirty years, is 48.5 
inches. The average from fifteen observers in this State 
having records covering the five years I8QI—95 1s 44.7 inches. 
The average for the past nine years at Storrs is 45.2 inches. 
The average precipitation for 1897 is therefore 4.5 inches above 
the general average for the State and 8 inches above the 
average for nine years at Storrs. ‘The highest previous record 
at this Station was in 1891 (51.6 inches). ‘The rainfall was 
especially heavy during the months of July, August, Novem- 
ber and December, and was well distributed throughout the 
balance of the year. During the early part of the season there 
was sufficient to start a vigorous growth of all crops, but much. 
damage was caused to grass and some other crops by the ex- 
cessive rains of July and August. 
The temperature for January, February and March was 
about normal. April was rather cold and spring work did not 
begin as early as usual. ‘The last killing frost occurred April 
22. The temperature for the summer months was about 



