112 Daniell on Meteorological Observations. 



warmer, than 1820. The depth of rain was, however, greater ; 

 for the barometer was not so high, and the vapour was more 

 dense. As this is the season of the year when the most im- 

 portant fruits of the earth come to maturity, and the securing 

 of them in good order is the most anxious care of the human 

 race in these latitudes, the state of the weather at this time 

 acquires a proportionate interest. In 1819 it was remarkable 

 for being dry, clear, and warm. The finest harvest that had 

 been known for years was housed in the most satisfactory 

 manner. Not only in this country, but throughout Europe, it 

 formed almost an epoch, and corn-fields, orchards, and vine- 

 -yards, shared in the general benefit. The mean results of 

 this period may therefore be considered as the standard of a 

 fine season. The turnip-fields indeed, so important a part of 

 English agriculture, suffered from great drought and never 

 recovered, but the grasses, and pasture in general, though 

 burnt in the beginning of the autumn, revived with the rains in 

 the last half-quarter. 



In the year 1820 the harvest was much later. The crops of 

 <:orn, though abundant, were not of so fine quality as the last, 

 and were much mildewed ; but upon the whole, this was also 

 reckoned a productive harvest. The weather was still too dry 

 for the turnip-crops. 



The second half-quarters of the autumn were precisely 

 similar in point of dryness, but in 1820 the temperature ex- 

 ceeded that in 1819 as much as it fell below it in the first six 

 weeks, making the averages of the whole quarters precisely 

 the same. This accession of heat probably prevented the pre- 

 cipitation of the usual quantity of water, for the amount of 

 rain was less than half. 



The winters differed still more widely than the autumns. 

 The first was remarkable for its severity, and the second for its 

 mildness : the respective mean temperatures being 33 and 38. 

 In this quarter the latter regained the dryness which it was 

 behind in the preceding ; and the means, of the two half-years 

 were exactly similar. This state of the atmosphere is reckoned 

 by no means unfavourable to the farmer, and neither in the 



