From this table it appears that January is our coldest month. Next in order of coldness is December; then February, March, etc.

The warmest month is July; next in this order is August, then June, etc.

The greatest rainfall is in June; next in this order is July, then April, etc.

The greatest snowfall is in December; next in this order is February.

July has least cloudiness and December the most.

If we compare the temperature by seasons we find that summer is warmer than winter by 47°.11-almost the average temperature of our year above zero. The fall months are warner than the spring months by 2°.35.

The rainfall of summer (10.45 inches) is almost exactly double the quantity of rain and melted snow (5.18 inches) in winter. The difference between the rainfall of summer and winter varies greatly in different parts of the country. In New England the difference is less than 10 per cent; in New York it is nearly 50 per cent; in Virginia and the Carolinas it is 100 per cent; in Ohio, 25 per cent; in Wisconsin, 140 per cent; while in Iowa and Kansas it is 300 per cent. On the Pacific coast the reverse of this occurs, for the winter rainfall of Oregon is 7 times, and of California 20 times that of the summer fall of rain.

The rainfall of spring months exceeds that of the autumn by 1.81 inches.

If we take the six months from April to September as representing the warm season, and from October to March as embracing the cold season, we shall find the difference in the amount of rainfall very striking; the first period would give 19.73 inches; the second 11.49 inches.

The amount of snowfall varies greatly for different parts of our country. In Maine it is 74 feet annually; in Vermont and New Hampshire, 6 feet; in Massachusetts, 4 feet; in Connecticut, 3 feet; in New Jersey, 2 feet; in Southern Ohio, 14 feet, while at the Agricultural College it is 4 feet. In the western and northern parts of our State, near the great lakes, there is much more snow than in the central and southern parts.

LAWS ON AGRICULTURE.

The statute law establishing the State Board of Agriculture, and providing for the Agricultural College, is as follows (see Compiled Laws of 1871, chapter 134, and Session Laws of 1873, Acts No. 145 and 157):

SECTION 1. The People of the State of Michigan enact, That a board is hereby constituted and established which shall be known under the name and style of the "State Board of Agriculture." It shall consist of six members besides the Governor of the State and the president of the State Agricultural College, who shall be ex officio member of the board; the Governor by and with the consent of the Senate, on or before the third Wednesday of January of each biennial session, shall appoint two suitable persons to fill the vacancies that shall next occur, which vacancies shall be so filled that at least one-half the members shall be practical agriculturists.

SEC. 2. The State Board of Agriculture shall be a body corporate, capable in law of suing and being sued, of taking, holding, and selling personal and real estate, of contracting and being contracted with, of having and using a corporate seal, and of causing to be done all things necessary to carry out the provisions of this act.

SEC. 3. Any vacancy in said Board, caused by death, resignation, or removal from the State, may be filled by a majority of the members. A majority shall be a quorum for the transaction of business. The members of the Board shall receive no per diem compensation for their services, but shall be paid their traveling and other expenses while employed on the business of the Board.

SEC. 4. They shall meet quarterly at stated times at the State Agricultural College, and may meet at such other times and places as they may determine.

SEC. 5. At their first meeting the members shall choose one of their number as president of their own Board.

SEC. 6. At their first meeting, or as soon after as a competent and suitable person can be obtained, they shall choose a secretary of the Board. If chosen from their own number, a vacancy shall be thus created in the Board. A treasurer shall also be chosen, at their first meeting, who may or may not be from the members of their Board, as they shall determine. They shall take such bonds from the secretary and treasurer as shall be deemed adequate to secure the faithful performance of their duties by those respective officers. The secretary and treasurer shall be chosen biennially, and shall hold their offices for two years from the last Wednesday of February, or until their successors are chosen.

SEC. 7. The Board shall direct the disposition of any moneys appropriated to the State Agricultural College.

SEC. 8. The secretary of the Board shall reside at or near the Agricultural College, and keep his office in the city of Lansing at the State buildings, or at the Institution, as the Board shall direct. It shall be his duty to keep a record of the transactions of the State Board of Agriculture, and of the State Agricultural College and farms, which shall be open at all times to the inspection of any citizens of the State. He shall also have the custody of all books, papers, documents and other property which may be deposited in his office, including specimens of the vegetable and animal kingdoms of the State or counties; also keep and file all reports which may be made from time to time by county and State Agricultural and Horticultural societies, and all correspondence of the office from other persons and societies appertaining to the general business of husbandry; address circulars to societies, and the best practical farmers in the State and

elsewhere, with the view of eliciting information upon the newest and best mode of culture of those products, vegetables, trees, etc., adapted to the soil and climate of this State; also, on all subjects connected with field culture, horticulture, stockraising and the dairy. He shall encourage the formation of Agricultural Societies throughout the State, and purchase, receive, and distribute such rare and valuable seeds, plants, shrubbery, and trees, as it may be in his power to procure from the general government and other sources, as may be adapted to our climate and soils. He shall encourage the importation of improved breeds of horses, cattle, sheep, hogs, and other live-stock, and the invention and improvement of labor-saving implements of husbandry, and diffuse information in relation to the same. He shall encourage such domestic industry and household arts as are calculated to promote the general thrift, wealth, and resources of the State. To effect these objects he shall correspond with the Patent Office at Washington, and representatives of our National Government abroad, and if possible procure valuable contributions to agriculture from those sources. He shall aid as far as possible in obtaining contributions to the Museums and the Library of the State Agricultural College, and thus aid in the promotion of agriculture, science, and literature.

SEC. 9. The seeds, plants, trees and shrubbery received by the Secretary, and not needed by the College, shall be, so far as possible, distributed equally throughout the State, and placed in the hands of those farmers and others who will agree to cultivate them properly, and return to the Secretary's office a reasonable portion of the products thereof, with a full statement of the mode of cultivation, and such other information as may be necessary to ascertain their value for general cultivation in the State. Information in regard to agriculture may be published by him from time to time in the newspapers of the State, provided it does not involve any expense to the State.

SEC. 10. Repealed by Act No. 157, Session Laws 1873.