160 BOARD OF AGRICULTURE. 



causes which have an effect upon its productiveness. Its latitude, 

 or distance from the equator on either side ; its situation, whether 

 in the interior of a continent, or upon the seaboard ; by the configu- 

 ration of its surface, as regards elevation or depression ; by the 

 direction and force of the prevailing winds ; by the nature of the 

 soil and the manner of ciiltivation. 



It is evident that the atmosphere of countries situated upon or 

 near the ocean, is affected by the alternation of inland and sea- 

 breezes, brought on by the differences in the absorption and radia- 

 tion of heat, by the surfaces of the land and water. The warm 

 waters of the tropics, which are carried to the north by the ocean 

 currents ; and the rushing back of the cold waters from the north 

 to supply their place, cause a modification in the temperature near 

 the sea coast. 



There is a vast difference in the power of soils to absorb and 

 give off the heat received from the sun ; they also difi'er in their 

 capacity to absorb and hold the moisture which thej^ receive in the 

 shape of rain and dew ; hence the geological formation, and state 

 of culture, influence the climate of a country to a considerable 

 degree. 



The temperature of Somerset county is somewhat affected by 

 the high ranges of hills upon its northern boundary. These retain 

 the snow late in spring, and as the prevailing winds are north- 

 west, they blow the whole length of the county with much severity, 

 even after the snow in the southern part has for a long time been 

 gone. Snow falls earlier in the winter, and remains ui)i)ii the 

 ground later by some weeks in the northern part of the county ; 

 the land in the southern part can be worked, and seed planted 

 several days in advance of the more northern towns. Observa- 

 tions made in the interior of the county, for a number of years, 

 show the average time of the apple trees in full blossom, to be May 

 25th to 28th. In very early seasons they are out as soon as May 

 22d, and in late ones not until June 6th. 



In this ijlace I give the following tables upon the j)rogrcss of 

 vegctutiou, kept by an observing and intelligent cultivator in the 

 central portion of the county. It may also be remarked that tables 

 of this character, kept for a series of years, would determine to 

 a very exact calculation when ground is in a state of proper 

 warmth to receive the seeds of annual ])lants, and also to judge 

 from the time of planting the seeds of perennial rooted plants 

 when they may be reasonably expected to be sufficiently ripe for 



