USA > Maryland > Montgomery County > Sandy Spring > Annals of Sandy Spring history of a rural community in Maryland, Volume 1 > Part 25
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September, October, November and December were each and all warmer than any for 15 years. The rainfall
1
318
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
for 5 months ending with November was but 14 inches, while the three winter months ensuing show a record of nearly 17 inches, being more than double the average for winter.
Only one night this winter did the thermometer sink below 16°, namely, January 24th; still there was a chance for all to get ice of a fair quality. There were 11 snowy days, but only one deep snow, that of February 4th, when 13 inches fell in one day. There was a solid 3 inches already on the ground when this deep snow fell, but instead of bringing us good sleighing, it simply ushered in spring, for the thermometer rose to 40° or higher every day for two weeks thereafter.
Still, after all these changes and extremes, our outlook now is not all discouraging. Wheat never made a healthier show on the first of April; stock have come out of the winter in decidedly better condition than last year, while farmers have been able to commence their spring work at least two weeks earlier than in 1881.
319
Average Temperature.
1868
1869 36.50
1870 38.30
1871 31.20
1872 29.50
1873 2x.40
1875 26.40
1878 39.00 35.2
1877 28.40 37.2 34.9
37.1
29.6
34.8
30.6
3%.2
33.3
April ....
47.3
70.6
51.7
56.7
52.9
50.1
41.2
46.4
49.2
61.3
66.7
49.0
53.6
44.5
19.9
50.6
June ....
70.2
71.3
73.3
72.5
73
72.1
73.8
70.9
73.9
72.3
67
71
=2.3
62.5
71.3
71.6
August ..
72.8
73.3
74.1
75.3
76
72.7
69.7
70.9
73.3
7.1
73
72.2
72.8
73.3
71.2
73
Sept .....
61.7
65.6
65.7
60.6
66.3
65.3
67.3
62.8
63.5
65.3
68.6
01.9
65.7
71.5
66.6
€5.5
Oct .....
51.2
47.6
55.1
55.4
52.9
51.8
52.0
52.3
40.1
56.8
51.0
€0.5
52.9
00.8
54.7
51.22
Nov ..
42.3
38
43.5
40.9
38.6
37.5
41.8
32.1
41.5
41.8
43.6
43.3
34.6
45.9
41.2
-11.4
Dec ......
20.4
35.7
33
29.7
27.2
37.9
35
35.0
25.1
40.7
31.3
39.8
27.8
40.4
31.8
33.3
Year ...
51.1
52.3
53.8
53.4
52
51.8
52.7
50.3
52.5%
53.8
5.1
53
53.8
5.1.1
52.8
52.3
Maximum Temperature in cach Month.
-
1868
1869
1870
1871
1872
1873
1871
1975
1876
1877
1878
1879
- 1880
1º41
Av. for 15 \'S.
Jan.
4th: 49° 30th 580 17th 660 15th 610:12th 539 16th 579,23d 600 22( 470 28th 690 20th 520 26th 519 28th 630,20th 629|13th 12 :16th 5301
57.30
Fch .....
*52
113
CS
118
52 125
65
121
57
57
76
55
63
92
63
21
01 126
53
63
5
7.1
116
63
27
(' :. 3
April ....
30
81 27
83
15
8.1
8
88
89
00
85
15
1
73
28
76
21
80
23
83
26
82
15
85
26
2
80
61.3
May .....
83
131
89
#87
*61
:10
92
28
86
31
23
91
*80
20
93
30
85
31
89
¥03
13
9-1
83
June ....
*92
K20
94
*93
*92
18
93
29
09
*05
27
95
28
9.3
* 89
*93
*93
27
61
93.3
July .. . .
*99
111
96 18
97
111
3
97
3
10
05
6 90
*99
27
97
19 00
16
07
/13 91
*02
06.1
August .. 30
01
21
: 97
4
93
16
95
13
022
3
92
20
01
6
86
7
02
*80
6
89
3
00
125
91
*011
7
91.5
Sept ....
*87
*87
85
*x2
9
01
1
88
12
89
*86
1
89
1
1
80
1
8.1
3
85
*79
87
75
77
Nov ... ..
10
74
*63
9
67
1
68
25
61
110
61
13
63
1
76
: 2
65
25
65
12
77
0
9
71
75
67.9
Dec ......
120
48
12
55
4
57
*51
2
65
12
71
3
62
23
1.1
59
20
65
10
58
62
5
53
114
0
58.6
Feb ......
26.7
36.8
33
3.1.4
31 33.1
31.3
31.3
25.5
March ..
41.9
37.5
36.9
46.7
37.1
11.2
37.2
37.2
47.5
11.2
39.9
37.9
12.5
39.9
May ....
59.7
59.6
63.1
63.5
61.0
60.5
60.7
61.1
62.2
60.4
62.0
0.3
63.1
57
€2
July . . . .
79.2
71.7
77.2
73.4
78.5
76.7
71.6
75.5
72.1
76.3
77.8%
74.2
71.8
75.5
73.5
71.1
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
..
March ...
17
78
128
67
21
61 117
71
63
115
69
71
i15
65
6
63
2
70
1'
72
11
70
1891 26.70
1422 31.60
Av. for 15 yrs.
Jan.
28.10
1878 31.10
29.00
40.10
* Same maximum on more than one day in the month.
×7.1
Oct .. . ..
1
72
2
73
1
15
80
6
79
17
73
20
7.4
26
75
0
73
20
70
9
77
2
59
60.2
4
123
125
11
30
95
38.70
32.10
1
Minimum Temperature in each Month.
Av. for 15 yrs.
1863
1-69
1870
1871
1872
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
1 -10°|21th 4º
18th
8
-2
15
5
10
17
19
*29
6
3
2
12.1
19
*18
19
13
18
11
25
20
1
19
8
20
12
27
5
22
12
2.1
28.5
April ... 13
21
1
28
*33
*37
*30
26
35
*25
19
19
*39
3
38
1 31
3
89
13
37
3
37
1
37
1
41
3
3.4
39
9
11
3
39
12
13
11
43
*53
2
50
51.3
* 55
* 49
* 63
55
60
*53
20
63
12
59
31
59
13
80
57
14
59
27
50
10
5.1
16
58
19
56
30
51
54.5
August . 13
55
19
*55
20
55
31
55
25
51
*30
*56
*19
21
28
=
23
*45
26
37
30
46
18
57
29
45
43.7
Sept . . . . 1x
40
*40
*. 16
22
37
# 31
30
32
30
2.1
15
29
14
30
*29
*39
29
28
26
26
19
28
6
32
*42
- 30.5
Oct ... . . . 18
27
Nov . . . . 28
*23
20
21
120
23
*1.1
17
130
21
30
15
30
130
20
5
28
22
13
*12
25
20
#23
20.2
Dec ..... .1
* Same minimum on more than one day in the month.
Average Temperature of Seasons.
Av. for 15 yrs.
1:08
1×60
1×70
1×71 32.90
1872 30.10
1873 299 49.3
1874 36.30 48.7
1875 2DO 48.3
1876 36.60
1877 30.20
1878 36.50
1879 30°
1880 39.2160
1881 28.30 50.816
1882 36.90
32.90
Winter*
23.60
31.20
35.70
-19.2
50.6
55.6
50.3
Spring ...
74.1
73.1
71.8
73.8
75.8
73.8
72.7
72.4
75.1
7.1.2
72.6
73.1
73.3
72.6
72
73.6
Fall .... .
52.7
50.4
5.4.9
52.3
52.6
51.5
54
51.4
52.5
55.6
55
55.2
52.4
60.4
55.5
53.8
0
12
10
-- 3
5
10
14
17
4
17
15
9
5
11
2 - 1
4 20
8.4
8
8
1
6
23
125
21
15.5
Feb .... March ..
3
*30
*30
*. 11
6
48
*
3
18
30
58
*61
*57
58.9
June .....
1 27
49
23
51
23
60
1
57
July ....
*11
*19
30
4
21
22
2
22
19
15
15
18
12
28 *3
#21
23
11
27
11
*- 7
*21
*6
0.7
-2º
*16°
5 -10
8 - 3º| 3d -39|14tht 9º
89:26th 199 9th 13º
#10°|31st 4º 30 -12º 17th 7º 10
Jan .....
May ....
13
52
*50
2
51
* 35
5
*12
*41
53
*47
*12
* >5
19
35
-3
* Ending with February of the year named.
320
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
49.8
50.8
49.5
50.1
54.9
51.3
53.9
49.8
Summer
3.90
25
20
5
21
Days on which Snow fell.
1967-8 35
1809-9 22
1869-70 29
1870-1 18
1871-2 25
1872-3 23
1873-4 23
1874-5' 19
1875-6 10
1876-7 22
1877-8 6
1878-9 20
1879-80 11
1880-1 24
1881-2 13
Av. for 15 Wint's 20
Rainfall.
AV.R. AV. days inch.
Rainy Days.
1873
1874
1875
1876
1877
1878
1879
1880
1881
1882
for
for
1x ** 1-09| 1870| 1×71| 1872 days in. days in. days in. days in. days in. days in. days in. days in. days in. days in. 15yr.
January ... February ..
00 1
11
7
11
5.03
7
2.78
7
2.31
9
3.97
5
1.58
7
2.41
8
1.92
10
2.12
8
3.73
8
4.65!
8.3
3.05
March ......
10
13
10
0
1.1
8
3.01
8
1.6%
10
3.66
11
6.2x
1.1
3.85
10
3.39
10 1.53
13
4.98,
11
5.46
11
4.06
10.8
3.79
April .....
13
10
12
8
6
12
3.68;
15
6.84
8
2.96
2.02
12
3.71
8
3.21
8 3.01
9
3.21! 11
1.01;
6
1.90
9.6
3.217%
May .......
13
18
10
11
11
10
11
9
2.07
8
3.52 9
3.67
9
4.11
2.93
7.75
8
6.69
7
8.11
2.81|
9
4.01
9.3
4.60
August ...
11
7
7
10
1.1
11.19|
8
3.11
16
8.83;
7
1.58
8
2.12
13
6.19
13
9.71
13
2.65
2.11| 14
7.07
10.
5.45
september.
14
October ....
9
0
9
9
7
6.03
1
.13
8
1.88
9
1.67
9
8.32
7
5.901
5
.90;
8
2.35
8
3.62;
7
.73
7.5
3.16
November.
11
6
10
3.×3
8
2.83
5.26,
11
3.91
10
9.70
3.32
8 1.16
12
3.21
7
2.22
.871
8.3
3.6.1
December.
11
--
---
Total. .
130
133
110
103
115 62.58 91 37.07,109 42.12 101 42.72 101 48.62;107 52.11 106 45.21:116 40.92,102 42.12 113 45.95 109.6 41.91
Av. pr. mo. 10.4
11.1
9.2
N.6
1.2 9.4
1.3- 7.8
3.09 9.1
3.51 x.7
3.54 x.7
4.05 x.9
4.34 8.8
3.77.9.7
3.41 8.5
3.51 9.4
3.83
0.1
3.7416
9
8
2.54
9
2.51
8
1.61
7
4.25
9
4.00 10
2.55 11
2.00 10
2.20, 15
5.97
9.6
3.10
12
9
10
1
X
4.02
8
6.96
8
3.13
12
10.53
8
3.09
9
2.01!
7
2.01
0
2.71
5
3.31
10
6.73;
8.2
4.55
8
1.13
0
1.89
3.70,
7
1.3.1
5 2.36
4.23
10 4.56
13
4.10
11
6.01
1.80
8.7
3.11
--
-
-
-
7
5 1.72!
8
2.02
10
2.72
7
2.79
9
5.10
10
5.99
11 3.11
10 4.33
11
7.33
7
3.35
9.5
3.84
9.7
3.43
11
6.15
8
2.40
8
1.16
2 00
8
1.25
10
4.60
8 7.07
4
.85
8 1.71
14
4.73
00 +
=
.
321
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
10yr.
3.23
er.
7
July ......
00
13
3
8
322
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
APRIL 2d, 1883.
The year just closed deserves our profound thankful- ness. Complaint might be made of the wet spring and the cold winter, the backwardness of the present season or the potato-rot last fall, the low price of hay or the defeat of the Republican party; but the grand fact remains that this has been the most productive year our farmers ever knew. It is rare indeed that a great wheat and corn crop both occur the same year; yet the year 1882 saw the largest of either ever gathered in the State of Maryland.
On April 12th last year the thermometer was 24°, and the promise for peaches was disastrously blighted; an- other of the many illustrations proving the truth of that familiar adage, "The early worm gets caught." A singular snow occurred on the 23d of April. There was . very little here, but near Washington, and Fairfax county, Va., six or seven inches fell and sleighs travelled freely.
May was the coldest and about the wettest on record. Average temperature for the month 5° below the normal. On the 3d the thermometer sunk to 34°, being the coldest ever known in May except May 1st, 1876. There was an abrupt stride from winter to summer on the 9th, when it rose to 83°, and the heat told on both men and horses, but this was the only hot day during the month. On several days coal fires were kept going all day. The first wheat head was seen on the 21st, and fields were only fairly out by the 30th. There was rain on 12 out of 13 consecutive days, ending May 16th, and the sun was visible but once between the 4th and 15th. Instead of enjoying a fine view of the conjunction of Venus and Jupiter in the early part of the month, these planets could not once be seen for 15 successive evenings. There was much trouble in getting cornfields in fit order to plant.
--
323
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
On the 9th of June we had our first saucer of straw- berries-just one month later than in 1878.
July was very temperate; not a single oppressive day, and the average noon temperature for the month was under 83º, which was very favorable for our enormous harvest. The other extreme was reached, however, on the 4th, which was the coldest July day in history; the ther- mometer was 58° at noon, being the lowest at that time of day until the last of September. Take the summer all through it was the coldest on record, being nearly 2º below the average for 15 years.
Although the year 1882 had no especial floods, and indeed the rainfall was but very slightly above the normal, still the showers were so generally. distributed that it seemed & very rainy year. There were 113 rainy days, being 4 more than the average. Owing to a suc- cession of copious rains through August and September, and to the warm October, fall pastures carried more stock and to a later period than usual. Besides the corn, there was a great growth of potatoes, but unfortunately these latter rotted to the extent of thousands of bushels.
Only 1.6 inches of rain fell during the two months of October and November; the ground became very hard for fall plowing. The coldest in October was 42º, and we continued to use Lima beans and sweet corn until the first week of November. No corn-husking was done in October except what farmers afterwards regretted. First frost on November 3d ; the first snow, November 26th. On the 28th .a 4-inch snow caught whole fields of corn unhoused.
The great astronomical event of the year, the transit of . Venus on the 6th of December, was observed here in spite of thin clouds which prevailed all day; most of us pre-
-
324
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
ferring to take our chances of even a cloudy transit of Venus this time rather than to wait until the next one.
There were 18 rainy and snowy days in January, the most in any month for 14 years.
February 2d, 1883. Thermometer at 7 A. M., 15°
4th,
6th, «
66 16 19
The past winter has been long and cold ; all the five months, except February, being below the average. Coal fires have been needed almost all the time, and there was abundant opportunity for hauling ice. Yet the lowest thermometer was 3° on the 23d and 24th of January. The far Northwest experienced one of the coldest winters ever known; still it was of some benefit as showing that cattle and sheep can stand even this severe weather with very little loss. The breaking up of winter was, in some localities, far worse than the continuance; rapid melting of snow under warm and copious rainfall raising the Ohio and other rivers to a disastrous height.
This has been decidedly the coldest March for 11 years, averaging 343°, or near 53º below the normal. Right good sleighing on the 23d and 24th. The month went out like a roaring lion, and sweet April was ushered in under "Grim Winter's cold white wind-swept mantle."
This record would fall sadly short of its true purpose were no allusion to be made to two of the most beautiful and wonderful sights ever beheld in the heavens. On Sunday night, the 16th of April, I was awakened a little before midnight, and glancing out the north window saw the whole sky illumined with a strange light. We often see reddish streaks in the north with a white band, and occasionally a little wavering and changing; but here for
* فيد - جي
325
ANNALS OF SANDY SPRING.
the first time was the Aurora Borealis in all its grandeur. To those who shared the rapture of witnessing this awful manifestation of unseen power, any description would be needless, save to recall the impression ; while to those who failed to see it, human language can no more portray that ever-changing yet ever-beautiful panorama than the drip- ping of a rainspout can mimic the thunders of Niagara. Imagine yourselves under an illimitable dome whose ceiling is the loveliest, most delicate drapery; imagine this drapery of every conceivable shade of exquisite blend- ing colors, no two pieces alike, and the same piece never appearing the same for two seconds together; imagine flashes of white and rosy light starting out of utter dark- ness, too swiftly for the eye to follow; and through all this glorious pageant imagine the tranquil radiance of the same familiar unchanging stars that have watched this earth since man first gazed in wonder at "their eternal ray"-these were the sole motionless dwellers in a trans- figured sky.
In the southeast, just over the horizon, at 5 o'clock on a morning in early October, a strange visitor could b. seen, shining bright against the background of the inoonless heavens. The giant comet had swung past his perihelion, and was now pursuing his erratic journey into the distant depths of. ether, not to return for thousands of years. May his next appearance, with his glowing ball of a head and curved scimitar of a tail, show him net only a brighter and better world than he now leaves, but our Narrow Gauge Railroad and an enlargement of the Lyceum !
ALLAN FARQUHAR.
.
F 85778, 0 4
5563
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