Beginning in the "spring" (the month of the "Abib", a critical stage of barley maturation), and continuing through the year, four seasons are required for keeping all of the ordinances of the Law of Moses (, , , ). Tropical Mesoamerica experiences a wet and a dry season year round. There is presently no evidence of pre-Columbian barley in Central America. Evidence of barley cultivation in ancient northern American has been found near the Great Lakes . When the Book of Mormon mentions "seasons", it is clear from the context that only part of the year is referred to (, ). It may be concluded that Book of Mormon lands were subject to more than two seasons with no impediment to keeping the ordinances of Israel (). Evidence indicates that winters were milder in western New York during Book of Mormon times. Even in modern times, humid, western New York occasionally experiences a heat index of 80 - in the spring and early summer ().