212 



TENTH ANNUAL REPORT OF 



"bility in it, and in many cases it is applicable, while in a few it fails 

 to apply, especially in long-continued rains. 



A satisfactory theory has yet to be established, and the facts that 

 have been, and are now collecting, will serve to suggest some import- 

 ant rules on this branch of meteorology. 



If proper meteorological apparatus could be procured, carefully 

 watched, and the facts noted by a sufficient number of observers at pro- 

 per distances from each other, correct comparisons might be instituted, 

 and data furnished for establishing fixed principles to guide the student 

 of nature in his search for truth ; but in this country the state of society 

 and the circumstances of most of those who would engage in the enter- 

 prise debar them from its successful pursuit. It can only be carried 

 on by the aid of government, or the liberality of the wealthy. When 

 either of these is given, then will meteorology in our country make 

 itself known and felt by its beneficial results to society ; and not the 

 least among these will be such as follow the investigation of the laws 

 governing the precipitation of water from the atmosphere. 



With the apparatus mentioned above, the following results have 

 been obtained ; premising, hoAvever, that during the months of win- 

 ter no record of the difference was kept, as the drifting of the snow 

 and other causes rendered the observations not reliable. A record 

 was kept of the direction of the wind, the height of the mercury in 

 the dry and wet bulb thermometers, with the relative humidity and 

 force of vapor, the duration of the rain-storms, as well as the quantity 

 of water collected in each gage. To note all these circumstances in 

 this paper would make it too long, and be interesting to only a few ; 

 therefore the aggregate results for each month will be mentioned. 



Number of storms. 



Prevailing wind. 



1854. 



April -6 I Easterlj- 



May - -6 do 



June - 7 I do 



July 2 



August -2 



October. - 4 



November 4 



1855. 



April 6 



May .3 



June -.8 



July 7 



August 4 



Mean 5 



do..., 



do.... 



....do.... 

 Westerly . 



Quantity. 



Upper gage. | Lower gage. Lower, -f- 



Difference. 



.-..do... 

 Easterly 



do... 



do... 



do... 



Inches. 

 2.703 

 3. 12 

 1.68 

 2.20 

 3.20 

 1.67 

 2-. 81 



2.42 

 3.50 

 4.10 

 3.44 

 2.06 



2.742 



3.85 



1.107 



Note. — Difference in height 85 feet. 



These means are for twelve (not consecutive) months — the prevailing wind being 

 Easterly. 



