experienced in that month. Along the Cape the temperature ran lower on the 29th and 30th than on the 25th. The precipitation was excessive, and nearly all occurred between the 5th and 18th of the month, during which time rain fell on every day but the 8th. At Provincetown the amount of precipitation was the largest ever registered in any month by the present observer. At Springfield the rainfall for the month was the heaviest of any September during a period of observation covering forty-three years, with the exception of the year 1882, when 11.40 inches fell. The average temperature for September at Springfield for twenty-three years was 62.8°; average for September, 1890, 61.9°; departure, -0.9°. The average temperature for September at Boston for twenty years was 62°; average for September, 1890, 62.9°; departure, +0.9. The average precipitation at Springfield for forty-three years was 3.60 inches; for September, 1890, 11.12; departure, +7.52 inches. The average precipitation at Boston for twenty years was 3.16 inches; for September, 1890, 5.04; departure, +1.88 inches. The prevailing wind was west. Frost was general on the 25th. The weather for October was below the normal in temperature and sunshine, and above in precipitation. The lowest temperature of the month occurred on the 22d. The average temperature for October at Springfield for twenty-three years was. 50.8°; average for October, 1890, 50.4°; departure, -0.4°. The average temperature for October at Boston for twenty years was 51.4°; average for October, 1890, 51°; departure, -0.40. The average precipitation for October at Springfield for forty-three years was 4.22 inches; for October, 1890, 6.70; departure, +2.48 inches. The average precipitation for October at Boston for twenty years was 4.12 inches; for October, 1890, 5.63; departure, +1.51 inches. On the 17th, 19th and 24th heavy rains and severe north-east gales occurred along the coast, doing much damage to trees, buildings and shipping, the wind on the latter date reaching as high a velocity on the Massachusetts coast as was ever experienced there. The prevailing wind was north-west. The weather for November was above the normal in amount of sunshine, very near the normal in temperature, and below in precipitation and number of rainy days. In Boston it was the dryest November since the signal office observations were begun in 1871, 0.97 inch of rain falling, all during the week ending the 18th. The average rainfall for November for twenty years was 4.78 inches. The temperature averaged 41.8°; the average for twenty years being 40.3°. At Amherst the total precipitation was 1.19 inches. Snow fell on the 11th, 22d and 23d, a total fall of 13 inches being recorded. The month of December was the coldest in Boston for ten years; the average temperature being 26°. The average temperature for the month for twenty years was 30.5°. In Boston 3.72 inches of rain and melted snow fell; the average precipitation for the month for twenty years being 3.42 inches. The prevailing wind was north-west. The highest temperature was 56°, on the 4th; the lowest zero, on the 3d. At Amherst the highest temperature was 43.59; the lowest, -5°. The total precipitation was 1.18 inches. Snow fell on the 3d, 5th, 6th, 7th, 18th, 22d, 26th, 27th, 29th and 30th, — total fall being 15 inches. Rain fell on the 3d, 6th, 17th, 18th, 21st and 22d. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATORY OF THE HATCH EXPERIMENT STATION, MASSACHUSETTS AGRICULTURAL COLLEGE, AMHERST. Latitude, 42° 23′ 48.5" N. Longitude, 72° 31′ 10" W. Height of instruments above ground, 51 feet. Above sea level, 260 feet. Twenty-eight halos were observed; 79 per cent were accompanied by storm within twentyfour hours, and 61 per cent within forty-eight hours after the occurrence of the halo. The rainfall was a trifle above the average for fifty years, as recorded at Amherst College. The temperature was also above the mean for the same time. C. D. WARNER, Meteorologist. *The first figures denote readings at top of tower, the second at base. CROPS OF THE YEAR. Of one hundred and six replies received from our crop correspondents, June 1, to the question, "Do you consider this season earlier than the average? If so, how much earlier?" forty-four stated the season to be about an average one, fifty-one that it was about a week earlier than the average, and eleven that it was from a week to ten days later. To the question, "Is the outlook in your locality as favorable for farmers as it was ten years ago?" one hundred and eleven replies were received, of which forty-two stated the outlook to be as favorable, nine that it was more favorable, and sixty that it was not as favorable. The first of July the stand of Indian corn was fairly good, and, though backward on account of unfavorable weather, was pushing rapidly ahead. In August it was growing finely, and promised to be a full average crop. October 1, seventy-one of the ninety correspondents replying to the question, “Do you consider the crop of Indian corn a full average?" stated that they did. The season was not particularly favorable to the growth and development of this crop, but, frost holding off until the 25th of September, opportunity was given for ripening, and most of it was cut and stooked in good condition. According to the annual reports of the United States Department of Agriculture, the Indian corn industry in this Commonwealth may be represented by the following figures: Haying became general between the 20th and the 25th of June, although some orchard grass was cut the first week in June. The hay crop proved to be unusually large in quantity, of fair average quality, and the weather for securing it was all that could be desired. Grass lands were somewhat injured by drought in the fore part of July, and rowen did not make a good start. The remainder of the season, and particularly September, being quite wet, rowen grew rapidly, and the crop proved to be nearly an average one. Much of it, however, was damaged by attempting to cure it during unfavorable weather. An idea of the importance of the hay crop to our farmers may be gained from the following figures, taken from the annual reports of the United States Department of Agriculture: July 1, potatoes, both early and late, promised uncommonly well. August 1, correspondents reported that rot had not appeared to any extent, and that the crop of early potatoes was an average one. On account of drought, late potatoes on light land ripened off when the tubers were only partly grown. September 1, on the whole, the crop promised to be nearly a fair average, and blight and rot were not very prevalent. The wet, muggy weather the first half of September, however, was very favorable to the development of this fungus, and, as a consequence, in many localities potatoes rotted badly both in the field and in the cellar. Many farmers, fearful of loss, forced their crop upon the market too early, depressing the price for the time being. The average price for the year has been higher than usual, and the total value of the crop will be fully equal to the average. |