61 NATURAL AND CIVIL 



During three months in the year, this part 

 of America is covered with snow. On the 

 mountains the snow is generally from two and 

 an half to four and an half feet deep ; and does 

 not go off until after the middle of April. In 

 the loM er grounds, the snow for the most part, 

 is from one, to two and an half feet deep ; and 

 remains until about the twentieth of March.... 

 The advantage derived to the earth from tlie 

 quantity and duration of the snow-, is every 

 where apparent. As soon as it is melted on the 

 mountains, the earth appears to be greatly fer- 

 tilized : the spring comes on immediately ; 

 and the vegetables of every kind are gi'een and 

 flourishing. With a A'ery little cultivation, the 

 earth is prepared for the reception of tlie seed ; 

 and the vegetation becomes extremely quick, 

 and rapid. 



The efiects .being so apparent, a general 

 opinion seems to have taken place, that the snow 

 communicates to the earth some nitrous salts or 

 enriching substance which tends to increase its 

 fertility. In Februar}- 1791, I melted as much 

 snow as afforded six e:allons of water. The 

 snow was collected as it was failing : Bemg 

 evaporated there remained eleven grains of cal- 

 carious earth, five grains of an oily substaxsce, 

 and two grains of saline matter. The fertilizing 

 effect of snoVv% cannot therefore be derived horn 

 any nitrous salts, which it receives or contains 

 when it is falling through the atmosphere. 

 Suspecting it might acquire some saline mix- 

 tures by laying on the earth, January 30, 1792, 

 in an open field covered with grass, I collected 

 ^s much of the snow which lay next to the earth, 



