CLIMATE AND SOIL. Massachusetts lies in the middle of the north temperate zone, yet, because of its proximity to the paths of the cyclonic and anticyclonic disturbances, it is strongly influenced by the north winds of winter and by the west and southwest winds of summer, bringing the hot continental air to the coast. The average tem perature for January is between 25° and 30°, and for July about 70°. in summer the maxi mum temperature may rise in places above 100° ; in winter the mercury sometimes falls to 10° be low zero. The average growing season lasts about six and one-half months. There is an average an nual rainfall of 40 inches and over, very evenly distributed through the year. The snowfall is rather heavy, ranging from 30 inches at the southern coast to 60 inches in the northwestern counties. The average annual relative humidity ranges from SO per cent. on the islands at the southeast to less than 70 per cent. in the north
western counties. The islands of Martha's Vine yard and Nantucket have an average wind velo city for the year of 14 miles per hour, the high est average recorded in the United States. The normal wind direction for January is northwest, and for July is southwest.
The soil of Massachusetts is largely the result of glacial erosion and deposition. The harder ridges, overridden by the ice, were denuded of all soil; the debris of the granitic hills is too coarse and too new to invite cultivation. The Triassic valley of the Connecticut River gives flat lands of exceeding fertility, while river and lake deposits of worked-over glacial till furnish ninny alluvial plains of very rich land, but of limited area. Nally glacial lakes are partly filled, and are utilized as cranberry marshes.
Fur FLORA and FAUNA, see these sections under UNITED STATES.