PROCEEDINGS OF THE FARMERS' CLUB. 117 



employed as the teacher of a school, in a rural district, who was 

 not able to teach at least the rudiments of botany in general, 

 and particularly in that locality. The technical names may be 

 easily acquired, explained and understood. All that is needed is 

 a teacher who knows a cabbage from a cabbage rose. 



Mr. G. says : "The study of botany leads us to the fields and 

 groves there to stud}^ the beautiful order of nature. It combines 

 bodily exercise, recreation and mental activity, and is therefore 

 the study of all others to 'drive dull care away.' It has also. its 

 practical uses. In the common names of plants there is great con- 

 fusion. Many familiar plants are called by one name in one locality 

 and by a different name in another ; and a great many seem to 

 have no name at all. Thus we have had a discussion lately as to 

 what is blue grass. One man ^vrites from the west about wild 

 buckwheat, and no one present seemed to know what he meant. 

 Had this correspondent been a botanist he could have made him- 

 self understood. Our May w^ed is known in some parts of the 

 country only as dog fennel, and in others as w^ild chamomile. I 

 should like to see this interesting but much neglected branch of 

 knowledge revived." 



One of the most useful works to be had is one lately published 

 by Tilton & Co., Boston, "Flowers of the Garden," which gives 

 common botanical names. 



The Rain-fall of 18 Go. 

 " The following: table shows the hiij-hest and lowest ran2:e of 

 thermometer (with date prefixed), the mean temperature, amount 

 of rain and snow (in inches and tenths) for the year 18(55. Meri- 

 dian — north latitude 43 degrees 10 minutes, west longitude 74 

 degrees 5(3 minutes ; height above the sea, 835 feet, at South Tren- 

 ton, N. Y.: 



Inches Inches 

 Date. Max. Date. Min. Mean. Kain. Snow. 



Jan. 22 40 26 22 20 5.70 57 



Feb. 2G ...48 13 15 26.4 4.75 24 



March 16 54 12 8 25 6.35 8 



April 29 56 9 28 40.1 7.20 1.25 



May 17 78 11 30 55.6 2.85 



June 18 92 14 50 70.2 5.40 



July 28 86 13 50 66.9 5.77 



Aug. 4... 89 29 42 64.9 1.22 



Sept. 10 -,- 88 20 40 68 2.96 



