268 



tatiou. 30th, barley and other grains have come up finely, and grass looks 

 well, though the ground is quite dry, the rain being absorbed very quickly. 

 The pastures, however, are backward. 



Westjield, MassacJmsetts. — April 7. — The last snow fell. 21st, the first 

 thunder-shower of the season. 24th, at 7 a. ni. the barometer fell to 2S.S7, (cor- 

 rected for temperature,) which was lower than the observer had ever seen it in 

 this place. 28 ih, plums in blossom. The flower buds of peach trees are 

 winter- killed. 



North Billerica, Massachusetts. — April 5. — Lilac leaves unfolding; farmers 

 ploughing. 24tli, barometer at 2 p. m. lower than tlie observer evia- saw it before. 

 3()th, the early cherry in bloom in sheltered situations; on the whole, the spring 

 is baokward. 



New Bedford, MassacJiusctts. — April 15. — Lawns and grass plots assume a 

 bright green. 19th, blossoms of the silver poplar falling. 27th, elm blossoms, 

 fall. 30th, some dwarf magnolias in the warmest situations in flower. 



Middleiown, Connecticut. — April 21. — Thunder and lightning iu the morning. 

 23d, thunder and lightning in the morning and evening. 



Theresa, New York. — April 7. — Ice went out of the river. 15th, frost mostly 

 out of the ground. 21st, four peals of very distant thunder at 3 a. m. 27lh, 

 ground froze some. 



D( pavville, New York. — April 4. — Return of snipes and ground birds ; put 

 out bees; some old snow banks along the north side of walls and fences. 10th, 

 farmers begin to plough. 12th, roads dry, and on high ground dusty; some 

 oats and spring wheat sown to-day. ISth, first schooner leaves the port of 

 Clayton, on the St. Lawrence river. 27th, frost; ice a tenth of an inch thick. 

 30th, the month was rather dry. but, in the mean, mild and pleasant, and very 

 favorable for farm work. Owing to the warm weather from the IGth to the 23d 

 vegetation was quite brisk, but was retarded by the cold nights of last week. 



Garrison' i, New York. — The weather during April has averaged cold and dry; 

 vegetation coming forward slowly will class the season as backward. The first 

 shad taken at this position was on the 9th. Quite a thunder-storm from the 

 southwest on the 21st. 



Moriches, New York. — April 19. — Martins first seen about their favorite 

 resting-place on the barn. Slst, at 6.5 p. m. thunder in the west ; a shower came 

 up, and thunder and lightning were noticed four or five times; passed east. 

 23d, thunder heard several times at 9J a. m , apparently from the southeast, 

 and soon overhead. 26th, thin ice seen in a small boat. 28th, a general frost 

 this morning. 30th, for four days large fires have prevailed in the pine barrens 

 or forests a few miles to the west and northwest. The air has been excessively 



New York, New York. — April 8. — Snow during the forenoon, ground white, 

 but the snow" chiefly melted as it fell. 21st,<thunder shower at 4 10 p. m. to 

 the north, and here from 4.40 to 5.20 p. m.; lightning zigzag. 23d, one flash 

 of lightning followed by thunder at 9 a. m.; thre^ thunder-stiowers from 2.40 

 p. m. to 7 20 p. m. ; with the last one the lightning white and zigzag, and thunder 

 heavy. 23d, at 5 p. m. the barometer at Columbia college reached a pjoint 

 belo\v any previously recorded there. 2Sth, lightning from 8 to 10 p. m.; first 

 difi"use, then zigzag; no thunder heard. 



Little Genesee, New York. — April 14. — Thunder-shower at 5 p. m. 20th, 

 apple and currant leaves begin to show. 26tli, ground fi-oze a little. 27th, 

 thermometer 24° at sunrise. 30th, ice this morning; thermometer 29^ at 

 sunrise. 



Buffalo, Neiv York. — April 2. — Buffalo creek broke up and ran out to-day. 

 4th, remarkable flight of pigeons this morning, passing eastward in immense 

 waves, miles in length; thermometer 82"^ at 2.20 p. m., and 70° at sunset. 

 Swallows came to-day. 9th, thermometer 24° at 6 a. m. ; earth frozen. 17th, 



