Meteorological Journal. 161 
The months of April and October are of nearly the same temper- 
ature in a series of years, but this year they differed more than 5° ; 
April being unusually warm and had in fact taken the place of May, 
whose temperature was only 49° while that of April was 55.41. 
In 1833, the temperature of May was 67.17, making a difference 
of 18.17, a most appalling change when we consider its effects on 
vegetable as well as on animal life. April, from its commencement 
to the 25th of the month had been unusually warm ; for many days 
the temperature was above 80°, on the 16th it was at 88°, and the 
mean for twenty four hours was nearly 70°, for several days. Peach 
trees in warm exposures were in bloom the 21st of March, and gen- 
erally early in April. Every other tree was in the same state of for- 
wardness, in proportion to their relative time of blossoming. Forest 
trees, by the twentieth of April, were nearly in full foliage and every 
other living plant was full of life and vigor, expanding its precocious 
leaves and blossoms to the stimulus of a tropical climate. Even the 
feathered part of creation, generally so safely guided by the all pow- 
erful direction of instinct, often more unerring than than that of reason, 
were lulled into security, and enticed much farter north, than they 
usually venture so early in the season. The severe cold which fol- 
lowed in May, proved very destructive to these beautiful creatures. 
Benumbed by the frost and cut off from their accustomed food, by 
the destruction, or retardation of the insect races, they perished by 
thousands. On the 26th of April the wind changed suddenly from 
its southern direction to the north, attended with a little rain, below 
the mouth of the Muskingum on the Ohio River ; but above and north 
of that point, with snow. Severe frosts followed, which not only de- 
stroyed the early productions of the garden, but turned black, the foli- 
age of the forest trees. Fruit trees were so full of leaves that many of 
the tender germs were yet preserved—amild weather, and gentle show- 
ers, the fore part of May, had encouraged and recruited the frost 
bitten vegetation to renewed efforts. Grape vines, which were just 
opening their blossoms on the 27th of April, by the 13th of May 
had so far recruited as to put forth a second series of foliage and 
flowers, Peaches and apples, where they had escaped, were of the 
size of an ounce bullet. On the 13th of May, a still more severe 
frost, or rather repetition of frosts, came down upon us from the north, 
attended with a dry, cold, blighting wind, and frost followed on frost 
until the 19th of the month. The forests, so lately clad in all their 
splendor, put on the appearance of winter. The branches and 
Vol. XX VIII.—No. 1. 
