HISTORY OF VERMONT. 57 



winter. On March the 19th the ground was 

 frozen to the depth of three feet and eight in^ 

 ches. The ice in the lakes and stagnant wa- 

 ters, is generally frozen in the course of the 

 winter, about thirty inches thick ; in the rivers 

 and streams it is about twenty four ; and com- 

 monly goes off the last week in Maixh. 



The severest cold of our winters never kills 

 any of our young trees, and seldom freezes any 

 of our young cattle, although they are not hous- 

 ed during the winter. Nor is the cold so af- 

 fecting to the human body, as the extremes, 

 and sudden changes from heat to cold, on the 

 sea coasts. From the time that the winter first 

 sets in, until it breaks up, we have generally a 

 settled steady cold ; for the most part without 

 any thaw, and with but a few days in which the 

 snow melts at all. During this period we be- 

 come accustomed to the weather, and every 

 thing in our feeling, and clothing is adapted to 

 a steady and severe cold. Such a steady, [equal 

 temperature, is far more comfortable than those 

 great and sudden changes which take place, 

 where the extremes of heat and cold are fre- 

 quently succeeding each other. 



The temperature of the American climate is 

 so different in different parts of the same state, 

 and often in the same latitude, that it cannot be 

 well understood, but by viewing it in its varia- 

 tions tlirough the different parts of the northern 

 continent. The following table is designed to 

 exhibit such a comparative view. 



