308 



The observations have been made as last year, at the hours required by the 

 Smithsonian Institute, viz.: Sunrise, 9 A.M., 3 P.M., and 9P.M. 



The amount of rain and melted snow for the year is 55.90 inches; being 4.66 

 inches more than in the year 1850, though the amount for that year was more 

 than is thought to be the annual average. This amount, as will be seen by the 

 table above, was not very equally distributed through the year — being for the 

 month of May, 15.46 inches; and for the month of August, 9.85 inches; while 

 for the month of March, it was only .55 of an inch; and for the month of 

 Noverabei', 1.63 inches. 



The I'ains in the month of May occurring mostly in the latter part of the 

 month ; amounting on the last day of the month to 4.5 inches, raised the Rock 

 River to a great height, causing a flood which did great damage, cari-ying off 

 animals, bridges, and darns. 



The amount of snow which fell in the winter of 1850-51, was greater than 

 in the winter previous, being about 15 inches; but was so equally distributed 

 through the winter, as to afford but little sleighing. 



The past year is considered usually productive, though some of the crops were 

 greatly injured. The spring was very backward, more so even than the year 

 before, though the temperature was a little higher. The heavy rains of May 

 greatly delayed the planting of corn, on which account it was at first feared that 

 there would be but a small crop; but the mild fall, and the delay of hard frost, 

 gave time for the corn to ripen, and become a good crop. 



The yield of grass was very heavy. The wheat was comparatively a failure; 

 much of the spring wheat, especially the hedge-row, being greatly injured by the 

 blight. Hundreds of acres were not harvested. The winter wheat, and some 

 kinds of spring wheat, however, did usually well, furnishing a great abundance 

 beyond what is necessarily consumed. The crop of oats was very heavy. The 

 potatoe was very light, not being injured so much by the rot as by the blight; a 

 kind of indefinite term, by-the-by, given to some cause which seems to elude the 

 search of the agriculturist. Some portions of the State, it is understood, being 

 almost destitute of this important vegetable. 



Some farmers in this region have commenced the raising of flax, which gives a 

 profitable yield, and is destined to be a crop of much importance, both on account 

 of the seed and stalk. 



The fact can but be fully impressed upon the mind of every observant person, 

 that most, if not all, of the difficulties which attend the labors of the husbandman 

 in our State would be entirely removed, were a better, a more thorough and 

 faithful system of culture introduced. 



No farmer in New England, or even in the fruitful State of New York, would 

 have the temerity to expect a crop from so lax a system of culture. The con- 



