No. 63.] 197 



plicitly relied upon, though still a great help in forming prognostics 

 of the weather. 



The influence of the moon in diseases, in causing changes of the 

 weather and on the tides, have been affirmed and denied and amply 

 discussed on both sides of the question. It is not intended here to en- 

 ter into a discussion of controverted points, but only to notice some 

 phenomena of service to the agriculturist. 



Staten-lsland being surrounded by salt water, and partly bounded 

 by the ocean, is subject to fogs. These are prevalent towards spring; 

 and continue to occur until June and July. They are caused by the 

 melting of the ice on the banks of Newfoundland, which are situated 

 northeast of us; and though these shoals are several hundred miles 

 distant, the ice and icebergs which ground there and accumulate 

 thereabouts, have a very sensible effect upon the climate. The 

 warmer regions to the southwest, cause northeasterly currents of 

 air; and the progress of vegetation is retarded in the spring by cold 

 northeasterly storms of wind and rain, and sometimes (iense misty 

 fogs unaccompanied by storms. In the springs of 184 1 and 1842, the 

 fruit trees by their luxuriant blossoms promised an abundant yield, 

 but the hopes of the husbandman were not realized, on account of 

 the cold northeasterly rain storms which nipt the germ in the blos- 

 som. 



The tides around this island ordinarily rise and fall about six feet, 

 but they always rise higher at full noon. It is high tide when the 

 moon is in the southeast, and low tide when in the southwest. 

 A long continued northeast wind produces high tides by blowing 

 against the Gulf stream, retarding its course northward, and throw- 

 ing its waters inwards upon the adjacent coast. If such a storm 

 should take place near the full moon, extraordinary high tides occur, 

 and then the farms on the south side suffer by the washing away of 

 the banks and the fences. While the storms encroach upon the land 

 in some places, the sands which are driven along by the waves col- 

 lect and accumulate in others. Much damage was produced in the 

 latter part of Dec. 1839, and the [succeeding week in January, 1840, 

 by two such storms. 



Heavy northwesterly winds produce low tides, :;!id when these 

 occur, the inhabitants from the interior of the island ilock to the south 

 side in search of clams. Such a wind blew for several days in Feb- 

 ruary, 1842, when in front of and within sight of the writer's farm, 

 not less than three hundred people were engaged in digging and rak- 

 ing for this article of lood, and every individual, whether man or 

 boy, carried away in one tide two or more bushels each. 



The snow storms which visit this part of the country come from 

 the northeast, commencing in the southwest. Indications are seen 

 by a snow bank in the south and southwest. One of these storms 

 will extend as far south as the city of Washington, commence there 

 before the snow begins to fall in Philadelphia, and it will snow in 

 the latter place several hours before it begins at Staten-lsland, thus 

 progressing to windward, and by the time the storm commences at 



