PRECIPITATION. The following table shows the fall of rain and snow in the winter months by districts for the years 1897-8 with the average for the seventeen years 1882-98. In studying this table remember that an inch of rain is equivalent to ten inches of snow. The rainfall for the Province in the five months was unusually heavy, being 9.62 inches, compared with 6.44 inches in the preceding year, and an average of 6.59 inches for the seventeen years. The snowfall was heavier than in 1897, but lighter than the average for 1882-98. It is interesting to note, however, that this decrease is mainly due to the remarkably light snowfall in March, when only one inch descended. On the other hand, February was the only month failing to show an increase in the rainfall compared with the average of the seventeen years. The total precipitation of both rain and snow for the months named in the table was equal to 10 26 inches of rain in 1898, while the average for the seventeen years was equal to 7.31 inches of rain. From April to September is the growing season for most of the crops, and the rainfall during that important period is presented in the following table: Three of the months show an increased rainfall compared with their respective figures for the seventeen years period, and three fall below their own record. The most noticeable feature of the table is the low figures given for July, when the rainfall reached Months. only 1.11 inches, compared with 2.55 inches for the seventeen years. In some localities, owing to the unevenness of distribution, practically no rain fell during July. Next to July, the month of April had the least rainfall-as, indeed, it generally has the least of any-while September and June were the wettest months of the year. The heaviest rainfall, as usual, is shown in the west and south-west district. SUNSHINE. The amount registered for the six months, April to September inclusive, for the years 1897-8, and the average for the seventeen years 1882-98, are given in the following table. The last column gives the number of hours of possible sunshine, calculated for latitude 45o. hours. 212.5 180.0 183.4 182.9 180.1 205.0 hours. hours. Out of a total of 2,614.9 hours of possible sunshine for the six months named in the table, an average of 1,399.0 hours were registered, being a decided increase compared with the figures of both 1887 and the seventeen years' period. July was an unusually bright month, and so, relatively, was April. May, June and August, however, fell below their average amount of sunshine for the seventeen years. At Toronto, 1,504.3 hours of sunshine were registered in the six months, of which July contributed 325 hours. Woodstock and Kingston differ from the other four stations in the table by showing a decrease in the total number of hours of sunshine reported by them compared with their respective figures for 1882-98. SOME WEATHER NOTES. The following relating to the weather conditions of August, September and October, is taken from the November bulletin: The temperature has continued in excess of the average throughout the fall months, the period of three months, August, September and October, being over one degree warmer than the corresponding term for 1897, and three degrees in excess of the general average. It is noteworthy that since and including September, 1897, every month has had a mean temperature above the average. The extraordinary drouth of midsummer has been more than counterbalanced, so far as the volume of precipitation is concerned by the heavy rains of October, during which month the precipitation was 4 62 inches as compared with the general average for the month of 2.44. During the three months, August-October, the precipitation amounted to 10.20 inches, over two and a half inches more than the average. The figures for the ten months, from January to October, show that the rainfall has been upwards of one inch greater than the average precipitation. The maximum temperature reached in August was exceptionally high, close upon 100° being recorded at several stations. Drouth prevailed in some counties, the rainfall in others being above the average. The early part of September was also exceedingly warm, 100° being recorded at Stony Creek and Port Hope. The frosts occuring at a later period of the month occasioned but little damage. The month of October was mild and cloudy, with an unusually heavy rainfall, and snow at some stations about the 27th. The pasture remained good until the end of the month. Frosts were but light. The first general frost took place on the 16th of October, though numerous northern or exposed localities were visited at earlier dates in the month, especially on the 6th and 7th. Some of the more southern stations did not experience any frost until dates varying from the 27th to the 30th. Singularly enough, Gravenhurst, Muskoka, was untouched until the 27th. The earliest snowfall was at Sudbury on the 13th of October, followed by heavy snow a points in Nipissing, Muskoka and Parry Sound on the 14th, and a more general precipitation on the 27th, the volume of which, however, was but small. The first considerable fall of a general character was the storm of the 10th and 11th November, the precipitation of which varied from two inches in London and seven in Toronto to eleven in Millbrook. SEASONAL NOTES FROM HAILEYBURY, LAKE TEMISCAMINGUE. February 9th.—First rain. March 66 66 April 12th.-Snow going fast, some knolls bare. 16th. First crow; lightning at night. 28th.-Snow nearly all gone in clearing. 8th.-Ice getting rotten. 9th.-Robins singing. 22nd.-Bees put out, carrying pollen at once from the willows. 27th -Ice went out in afternoon. 28th. First steamer; frogs piping. 4th.-Last snow. 9th. 7th. First swallow. Thunder storm. 11th.-Kingfisher seen. Swallowtail butterfly. Year. FARM LANDS OF THE PROVINCE. RURAL AREA ASSESSED. The following table gives the acreage assessed in townships which are municipally organized by county groups, the total for the Province being given for all classes of land for 1897 and 1898: The rural area assessed amounts to 23,392,584 acres, or 32,156 acres more than in the preceding year, notwithstanding a considerable decrease in the number of acres of non-resident land. There are 12,993,614 acres of cleared land, which is 140,533 acres more than in 1897. There are still over seven million acres of woodland, and over three million acres of swamp or waste land in organized townships of the Province, although in both these items there has been a decrease in acreage compared with the previous year. The percentage of cleared land is now 55.5, which is .5 more than in 1897. 1894-98, and also the AREA IN PASTURE. The following table gives the number of acres in pasture by county groups and for the Province for each of the five years percentage of cleared land in pasture in 1898: 1898. 1897. 1896 1895 1894 Rate per 1,000 acres cleared in 1898... 36,025 acres. 2,708,043. 34,705 2,658,245 33,656 2,619,744 33.507 2,728,655 259,173 352,411 228,373 502,082 372,563 747,009 210,407 155.9 234.1 190.7 201.7 155.1 288.8 225.8 165.5 208.4 St. Lawrence and Ottawa. There are 2,708,043 acres in pasture, or 49,798 acres more than in the preceding year, every district sharing in the increase. Out of every 1,000 acres of cleared land there are 208.4 in pasture, taking the whole Province, while the dairy counties of the St. Lawrence and Ottawa group go as high as 288.8 per 1,000. ACREAGE UNDER CROP The following table gives the acreage under crop for each of the five years 1894-98, with the average for the seventeen years, 1882 98 : The acreage under crop in the Province is given as 8,835,272, which is 133,567 more than in 1897, and it also exceeds the total area of any previous period. Hay has resumed its place in the lead, oats having fallen back to their former position as the crop with the second largest acreage. There is a decided enlargement in the areas of both fall and spring wheats, but corn, for the first time in many years, has failed to make an increase in acreage. There is nothing striking in the changes of figures given for the other crops. The acreage of all crops mentioned in the preceding table is given in the following table, and for the same periods, by county groups and for the Province : 1898 1897 1896 1895 1394. Average 1882-98.. 1,159,025 995,640 830,307 1,723,029 1,735,248 1,601,768 620,847 169,408 8,35,272 1,451,757 575,196 114,402 7,876,919 St. Lawrence and Ottawa. Every group of counties shows an increase in the acreage under crop, each having, also, a larger area than in any other year of the table. The Lake Ontario, West Midland and St. Lawrence and Ottawa districts still lead in the matter of acreage, in the order named. PROPORTIONAL AREAS UNDER CROP. The relative distribution of the various crops per 1,000 acres cleared is given in the following table, by county groups |