CIJMATE, &a, OF THE SOUTH SHORE OF LAKE EHIE. 



instance fallen l>elow zero; while at Columbus, Marietta and Cincinnati, situated from 

 120 to 150 miles to the south, it has frequently sunk to O'^, and has occasionally fallen 

 to 10° below, at some of those places. Their latitudes are as follows, to wit : 

 Point of observation near Cleveland, 



North, 410 81' 



Columbus, 39° 57' 



Marietta, 89'' 



Ciueiuuatti, 39° 5' 54" 



The more tender vegetation is usually cut down in all northern Ohio — a few locali- 

 ties excepted — within five days of the 25th of September. The lake shore is an 

 exception. Dahlias, maize, and sweet potatoes are generally killed simultaneously 

 here and at Cincinnati — never before the 25th of October, and sometimes not until 

 late in November. In one instance, at least, the lake shore escaped two weeks later 

 than did Cincinnati. 



At tlie present moment, October 25th, vegetation is as verdant and thrifty as it has 

 been at any time daring autumn, though it was cut down throughout the West gen- 

 erally several weeks since. 



The foliage of the fruit and forest trees, liaving subserved its purposes, is falling 

 without the intervention of frost, and the wood of the more tender trees, such as the 

 peach and cherry, has attained a maturity that will render it sufficiently hardy to 

 withstand the impressions of cold during winter. This occurring annually, gives to 

 those trees a degree of vigor, health, and productiveness, not to be met with in localities 

 where their growth is suddenly arrested by frost, at a jjeriod when they are immature. 



In the middle and southern sections of Ohio, spring sets in during the month of 

 IMarch — perhaps eai'lier. The warm winds blowing up the valleys of the Mississippi 

 and Ohio, in conjunction with other causes, bring forth vegetation earlier ; but cold 

 weather and disastrous frosts too often follow. 



While these changes are progressing in those parts of the State, winter will remain 

 steadfast at this point. Little advancement will be made by spring, so long as any 

 considerable bodies of ice float upon the lake, even as low down as Buffalo. No sooner 

 do they disappear than spring sets in wdth a reality, and vegetation puts forth with 

 suh-arctic rapidity. 



The lake rapidly imbibing heat at this season, becomes a safeguard against any 

 subsequent vernal frost. Its influence was manifested in a satisfactory manner, early 

 in the present season. On the 1st of May, spring seemed to be fully established ; 

 fruit trees had blossomed, and in some localities young fruits had formed. The morn- 

 ing was cold and the temperature declined during the day and evening. At 2 o'clock 

 P. M., it was 48° Fahrenheit; at T, 34° ; and at 9, 32°. The atmosphere was calm 

 and clear, indicating to an inexperienced observer the approach of a destructive frost. 

 At 10 o'clock P. M., it had risen to 40° ; a heavy cloud of haze hung about twenty 

 degrees above the lake and soon overspread the whole horizon. The morning of the 

 following day was warm and misty; by 12 o'clock M., it was clear and spring-like 



7^ 



