{ sen} 
northern and middle ftates with ice; by which veffels outward bound 
are detained, and thofe coming on the coatt fuffer feverely. A greater . 
difadvantage of this variation, is uncertainty of the feeding-time, on 
which much depends the future crop: if it is too early, the luxuriance 
of autumnal vegetation exhaufts the root; if too late, it cannot acquire 
fufficient firmneds to bear the trcft. We have two prognoftics of winter 
which are founded in nature:, the migration of wildgeeie fhows that the: 
northern waters are freezing, and that we may expect fevere north weft-. 
erly winds: abundance of rain, by cocling the air, and wetting the 
earth, prepares both for the impreflton of the frofts : encreafing number 
of partridges, pheafants, and other ground birds in the populous parts, 
with the appearance of bears, doth alfo indicate that the weftern woods 
are already covered with fnow. Mild winters are always fucceeded by 
cold fprings*. Early thunder is a fure token of immediate cold weather 
for a week ortwo. The progrefs of the vernal feafon would moft pro- 
bably appear from an accurate Calendarium-Florea: the bloom and folia- 
tion of fome trees being unfolded not by an occafional warmth of the 
air, but by a gradual penetration of the heat to their deep roots, proves 
at leaft an afcendancy of the vernal temperature not eafily overcome 
by the northerly gales. x 
A continuance of wet weather in time of hay-making, is not very 
common, but, when it happens, very deftrudtive by the heat of the {ca- 
fon. It is to be apprehended after a long drought; and is generally fore-~ 
boded by a moifture in the air, vifible on glafs, walls, wocden furniture, 
falt, and other attractive bodies, for two days. As grafs may be cut 
fomewhat fooner or later, its prefervation may be obtained by this fore- 
fight.. ‘The harvefl of grain can bear no delay, efpecially in a hot cli- 
mate ; but difpatch is neceflary in a critical time. 
The fudden alterations of cold and heat throughout the year, would 
often be lefs injurious to health, by forefeeing them: generad rules are 
thefe—exceffive warmth for the feafon feldom continues above a few days, 
and quickly changes into the oppofite extreme: fine days in winter, 
fpring, and latter part of autumn are immediately fucceeded by cold and 
wet, rain or fnow, according tO feafon and latitude ; wherefore they are 
called weather-breeders. 
The 
*J.ong experience has given rife to the adage, winter newer rots in the fhy, and to the Jndias. 
gle ftill generally fo called, chat winter mui come when the ponus are Sule 
