58 



Meteorological Journal 



much more heat for its welfare and healthy growth than the cereal 

 grains, was still more retarded in ripening than wheat. The heat of 

 August being nearly two degrees less than that of July, and four 

 below the usual temperature for this month, checked the ripening of 

 the grain, until many fields, planted at the usual period, were much 

 injured by the frosts, which occurred early in September. It was a 

 wide spreading and common calamity, felt through all the western 

 States, to the serious injury of the farming interest. It was remarked 

 that not a month passed during the summer without frost, on two or 

 more nights of each ; a fact not noticed since the cold summer of 

 1816, when so many spots on the sun's disk interrupted or lessened 

 solar heat. The season has been congenial to the growth of oats 

 and potatoes, assimilating more to that of the eastern States ; and 

 large crops of both these articles were produced. Grass was also 

 abundant, but late in ripening. Fruit, especially apples and pears, 

 was in great profusion, and very excellent in quality. The fluctua- 

 tions of the mercurial column in the barometer, have been more va- 

 ried than common, being subjected to unusual depressions. It was 

 the lowest on the 22d of March, when it fell to 28 T Yo inches, al- 

 though unattended with any remarkable phenomenon in the weath- 

 er. It was at its maximum for the year on the 5th of the same 

 month, standing at 29 T %% inches ; making the greatest range 1 ffy 

 inch. A remarkable depression took place on the 10th and 11th of 

 November, when it sunk to 28 T y > o> and continued at and below 29 

 inches for forty eight hours. It was then attended by a high wind 

 from the west. This depression was noticed through the western 

 and middle States. Snow fell to the depth of three inches on the 

 22d Nov., and much floating ice appeared in the Ohio, checking, 

 though not entirely stopping, steam-boat navigation. Early in Dec. 

 the rivers closed above Pittsburgh, and the Ohio was full of floating 

 ice below that place, nearly all the month. At Marietta on the 17th, 

 the mercury sunk to 6° above zero, which is the greatest depression 

 yet felt this winter. January commenced mildly, and has continued 

 so to this 7th day of the month. Rivers clear of ice, and navigation 

 free, with a depth of water sufficient for boats of the largest class. 

 The supply of water has been more abundant than usual the whole 



season. 



