HISTORY OF VERMONT. 67 



Was heated seven degrees above the freezing 

 point, in consequence of the snow with which 

 it was covered. 



This will help us to account for the benefi- 

 cial effects, which are derived from the snow, 

 in all cold climates. Different degrees of heat 

 are necessary, for the preservation and growth 

 of different vegetables. None of them ^\ill 

 grow when they are frozen ; and most of them 

 will perish -when the cold at their roots is very 

 severe. A thick covering of snow prevents 

 these effects. The earth is kept open, and the 

 roots of the vegetables are preserved compara- 

 tively warm. The snow is continually melting 

 at the surface of the earth : It moistens, and 

 enriches the soil ; keeps off the frost and wind, 

 and prevents all evaporation from the surface of 

 the earth. The earth thus prepai'ed by heat 

 and moisture, and a collection of all its effluvia, 

 is in a fit state for that sudden and rapid veget- 

 ation, which takes place in all cold climates, 

 immediately upon the melting of the snow. 



The weather is generally fair in the winter ; 

 and often, with an hazy atmosphere. The 

 snows are frequent, but they generally come in 

 small quantities, and are over in one or two 

 hours : They are not attended with high winds^ 

 or heavy storms ; but they come from all points 

 of the compass, except the east ; very frequent- 

 ly from the west, and northwest. Hail is not 

 uncommon in the winter, but rain is not fre- 

 quent. About the middle of March the spring 

 commences. The winds and weather are then 

 very unsettled until the beginning of April. In 

 April and May the weather becomes mild an4 



