309 



science of a New England farmer, practising upon such a system, would harrass 

 him with a certain looking for of rust, mildew, and blight. In a country where 

 a farmer will remove the place of his barn-yard, in order to get away as easily as 

 possible from the accumulated manure; or, when this cannot be done, will cast it 

 out into the street, or some gully, where the water shall wash it away as far as 

 possible from his domain, nothing else other than a failure of crops ought to 

 be expected. 



What fruit has been introduced into the country did well the past year, and 

 has kept up its good promise for the future. In some instances apple, f>s well as 

 other fruit trees, have suffered from the blight; some gi-apes were injured by the 

 frost while in the blossom, but those later in flowering did finely. 



Garden vines were greatly injured by the heavy rains in the spring; some 

 being entirely drowned out, while others rotted at the roots. 



There was no flowering of plants the second time, observed, as last year, aside 

 from the case mentioned in the Calendar, on December 10th. 



The Canthaiis Cinerea, which has made its appearance here in increasing 

 numbers for the few previous years, was not observed to any amount. Neither 

 was anything heard of the Chinck-bug, so troublesome the last two years in the 

 northern counties of Illinois. 



There have been, during the past year, some heavy storms of electric fluid, 

 particularly in the month of May, frequently striking buildings and other objects 

 elevated to much extent above the ground ; thus showing the great importance 

 of protecting buildings, greatly exposed as they are on the prairies, by proper 

 lightning rods. 



The prevailing winds have been as last year — north-west and north ; though 

 ■we have quite frequent and strong winds from the south-west. 



There was a violent wind on the 30th of May, which did some damage by 

 unroofing buildings, removing fences, &c., though its track, as it passed this place, 

 was quite narrow, being but a few rods in width. Its general course was from 

 south-west to the north-east. The law of rotation of the winds — from the north 

 to the east; then south, south-west, west, &c., mentioned in the last year's 

 abstract — seems to be the one generally followed, though not always, as far as 

 capable of observation. 



CALENDAR. 



January 2d, Morning, meteor in the N. E. — 16th, the Thermometer fell from 

 35° at sunrise, to 3° at 9 P.M. Tulips and Narcissus above ground; Humble 

 Bee seen flying about. — 30th, Coldest day in the year. Thermometer averaging 

 11° below zero. 



February 23rd, Severe storms of thunder and' lightning, with rain, in the 

 night. 



