The Valley Virginian. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1865-1895, 1885-12-31

in Wythe county, during the night. AS
usual, however, July proved to be.
the month for hot weather and heavy
thunder storms, The warmest day
Of the month and also that of the
year, was on the 18th when the mer-
curry stood at 100 in the shade. This was
the hottest weather experienced here since
July 14th, 1880. From the 23d to the 18th
was most mild period From the 2Sth
of this month dates the beginning Of the
great dr0uth of the year,
During AUGUsr, as in the two months
preceding, the temperature was above and
the rainfall below the average. The
month entered hot and sultry with a few
slight showers that came on the Sd, 7th
and 18th. On the 18th the wind attained
Il velocity of GA miles per hour. During
the latter-half of this month the drouth
had assumed such proportions that pas
lures persisted and fields everywhere be-
came dry and parched. The corn crop in
many places was seriously injured.
Though the temperature was above the
mean, there was one. abrupt plunge of
temperature below the mean oil the 9th
when the thermometer registered 48
Extra clothing became necessary and
,anleDgsalL eirelassh esudtEen fall Of tenn
peratUre was freely commented on
In SEPTEMBER both the temperature
and the rainfall were slightly below the
average. The drouth Of the season con-
tinued throughout the entire month
Water supplies for stock and family pur-
poses were refused to scarcity hereto
fore unknown in this part of the state.
Farming interests became greatly par
alyzed and the forest trees assumed the
''sear and yellow leaf~ earlier than
usual on account of the absence of moist
ure both in the soil and the atmosphere.
Forest fires ragged in the mountains so that
by the 9th, 25th and Goth, dense layers of
smoke hung like a great pail over the
country. This frequently gave the setting
sun the appearance Of a great red-hot ball
of iron as he sank behind the western hills.
A number of magnificent sunglows were
! observed during this month on the even
ing of the 14th in particular the whole
western sky seemed in blaze of glory.
! The temperature for OCTOBER was be-
low, While the rainfall was considerably
| above the average. The month entered as
September closed, that is-with warm sui
try and dry weather. A cool reaetionary
period set in on the 7tfl, and on the 18th
the prolonged droutA that had prevailed
since July IS was finally broken up. The
Goth and 29th were dates of heavy precipi-
tation. On the latter date my rain guage
measured exactly 5 inches. High waters
prevailed, and land slides, Wash-outs and
cave-inS were common in different parts
OF the country. The rain that fell on this
one occasion.aMounted to fraction over
oGl tons per acre, or little more than %
lbs. to the square foot. IF measured such
a deposit would make an aggregate of
about 1900 hogsheads per acre. The total
rainfall lor tAls month was 1890 inches.
During the interval from the 22d to the
eth a series Of frosts occurred that made
sad havoc with tbs. vegetables that had
Withstood the previous cold weather of the
season. The coolest day Of the month was
the 3lst, when the ground.was fr,zen fox
the first time for the season,
IN Nov ,aBEE the temperature was be-
low, While lie rainfall was above the aver
age. On the ID the first snow flakes of the
season fell Heavy rains that were ac-
c0mpanied with thunder and Lightning
came on the It'll and &th. Low tempera-
ture with q protraoted series of frosts
s2emea to be the order OF the weather after
| the l4th. From the Goth to the close Ct
the month was an interval of remarkably
even temperature and almost continual
cloudy weather There was not enough
snow during this month to- cover the
ground, though th9 mQuQtains east and
west OF Us were whitened on the 2Gth.
During DECEMBER The temperature and
rainfall were slightly above the average
Inc month opened in the midst Of cold.
damp period, raw winds and snow SQUALLS
beng common Oh the first and seconf
days. On the 18th the temperature sud
denly dipped to within Of zero out The
rise to the normal was as sudden anG
abrupt as bad been the fall The weather
on the 18th was gloomy IN the extreme
ram, sleet ana siosh being the order of th,
! day Everything exposed to the weathe
became cncased in a coat Of ice of abou
nan al inch in thickness Orchards SUI
Tered severely, and ~ pages tie WILLOW
WAS almost e4elsyly destroyed The 10t
ana ~! were dates Of unusually hig
wines. A period of mild, open weathe
continued from the Goth up to the 3lst
which gave us, as Prof W II. Smith. c
Montreal, had foreca&e,l, . green
Il Christmas
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and Other mem rs> Of St Francis Churc
{ present. ed }I!s !.,nb i. fl,e with il pari
Y of - 700 il @oid, As J. git cognltion
d We Str1i e, rr.,'es, i ~ her as a membt
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I finest y''calis.s in Virginia, her tic
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