Meteorological Observations. 2S9 



functions. 2nd, Magnesia, being soluble in an excess of carbonic 

 acid, has on vegetation an action analogous to that of lime ; and 

 when a soil contains magnesia not sufficiently carbonated, this de- 

 fect may be remedied by the addition of manure, which by its de- 

 composition furnishes the necessary quantity of carbonic acid ; the 

 amelioration will be much more efficacious if the soil be frequently 

 disturbed, as thentheairwill better exercise its action. Srd.Whenlime 

 and magnesia exist in arable lands, the former is absorbed in prefer- 

 ence by the plants on account of its greater affinity for carbonic acid. 

 4th, In barren magnesian lands, it is not to the magnesia that the 

 sterility must be attributed, but to the cohesive state of their parts, 

 to the want of manure, of clay, or of other composts, to the large 

 quantity of oxide of iron, &c. 5th, Barren magnesian soils may be 

 rendered fertile by means of calcariferous substances, as rubbish, 

 chalk, ashes, marl, &c., provided the other conditions be fulfilled. — 

 Journal de Pharmacie de Janvier, 183S. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS FOR JANUARY, 1839. 



Chiswick. — .Tan. 1. Overcast. 2,3. Cloudy and fine. 4. Rain: clear. 5. 

 Clear and veiy fine. G. Overcast: sleet: raiu at night, with wind increasing to 

 a hurricane. 7. Boisterous. 8. Clear : slight snow. 9, 10. Frosty. 11. Over- 

 cast: rain. 12. Very fine. 13. Cloudy and windy, with slight showers. ]4. 

 Rain. 15. Very clear. 16. Fine, but cold. 17,18. Sharp frost : clear. 19. 

 Stormy and wet: clear at night, with aurora borealis. 20. Fine: rain. 21. 

 Rain. 22. Clear and cold. 23. Overcast and fine. 24. Hazy : fine. 25. 

 Fine. 20. Fine : slight snow. 27. Cloudy and cold. 28. Frosty : slight 

 snow at night. 29. Clear : snow. 30. Sharp frost : slightly overcast : stormy 

 with snow : tempestuous at night. 31. Snowing. 



The hurricane, which commenced about 10 p.m., on the evening of the 6'tli, 

 although considered unusually violent in the neighbourhood of London, appears 

 to have done little damage, compared with the devastation occasioned a few 

 hours previous in Ireland and in the west and north of England. In those 

 parts of the kingdom forest trees that had withstood llie storms of a century or 

 centuries were torn up in thousands on some estates. There was here a slight 

 frost in the morning ; snow and sleet during the day, and rain in the evening. 

 The wind was from south-east in the early part of the day, but towards night it 

 blew from south-west and west. — R. Thompson. 



Boiton. — Jan. 1. Cloudy. 2. Stormy. 3. Fine: stormy night. 4. Cloudy: 

 rain early a.m. 5. Fine. 6. Fine : snow i-.m- 7. Stormy; blew a hurricane 

 all day. 8. Stormy. 9,10. Fine. 11. Cloudy: rain early a.m. : rain a.m. 

 12,13. Cloudy. 14. Fine. 15. .Stormy. 16,17. Fine. 18. Fine : snow p.m. 

 19. Clondy : rain early a.m. : rain p.m. 20. Cloudy: rain early a.m. 21. 

 Rain. 22. Fine : snow early a.m. 23, 24. Cloudy. 25. Fine : rain p.m. 26. 

 Cloudy : snow early a.m. : snow p.m. 27. Cloudy : rain a.m. 28. Cloudy. 

 29. Fine: rain and snow p.m. SO. Fine: rain p.m. 31. Cloudy: large fall of 

 &now early a.m. : more snow in the day, with hail. 



Applegarlk Manse, Dumfries-shire. — Jan. 1. High wind and sharp showers. 

 2. Generally clear : occasional showers. 3. Very boisterous. 4. Calmed a 

 little: stormy P.M. 5. Wind strong: snow. 6. Frost and snow : rain p.m. 

 7. Fearful stonn : rain and sleet. 8. More calm ; more snow. 9. Frost : snow 

 lying three inches. 10. Thaw : snow melting. 11. Rain moderate : flood. 

 12. Moderate day : sunshine. 13. Frequent heavy showers. 14. Showery: 

 aurora borealis. 15. Frosty after a boisterous night. 16. Clear frost : wind 

 lulled. 17. Calm and frosty, and sunny. 18. Frost a.m. : rain at night. 19. 

 Temperate: heavy flood. 20. Shower a.m. : still mild. 21. Frost a.m. : in- 

 creasing p.m. 22. Clear frost : overcast p.m. 23. Frost again: slight thaw p.m. 

 24. Thaw; a few drops of rain. 25. Fine day, without frost. 26. Fine frosty 

 day. 27. Calm and clear frost. 28. Frost: slight fall of snow. 29. F'rost : 

 storm of snow. 30. Frost: snow and high wind. 31. Frost: still snowing : 

 nine inches deep. 



