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AGRICULTURAL TEXT-BOOK. 



of time which usually intervenes between one day of rain and 

 another. 



Thus, in 1841, according to the Army Meteorological Re 

 gister, there fell at Detroit, Mich., and New Orleans, La., the 

 following inches of rain and snow in each quarter of the year, in 

 so many days : 



Thus we see, that in Detroit, during this year, of 27.06 inches 

 of rain, 11.35 or less than half fell during the six winter months ; 

 leaving 15.71 inches for the use of vegetation; while in New 

 Orleans, 43.46 inches, or nearly three quarters of the whole 

 year s supply, fell during the winter months, leaving only 17.07 

 for the six summer months. So that, while there is much less 

 rain in Michigan, it is more equally distributed. 



139. The yield of grains, and root crops depends upon the 

 mode in which the rain falls, whether in light showers, and 

 dense fogs ; or in heavy storms ; and at the particular time of 

 vegetating or flowering. These particulars again vary according 

 to the soil, whether it is sand or clay, drained or undrained. 

 Thus oats appear to demand a constantly damp atmosphere ; 

 buckwheat and peas light showers while flowering ; while wheat 

 is apt to be injured by rust, if much warm rain falls at the time 

 it is ripening. The size and average weight of stock also seem 

 to depend upon the mode in which rain falls. The health of 

 sheep is certainly dependent on this peculiarity of the climate ; 

 and the naturalization of varieties probably depends upon it. 



Dr. P. A. Brown, of Philadelphia, observes &quot; that if a line be drawn 

 diagonally through the United States from the South-east corner of New 

 Hampshire to Texas, it will be for.nd, that the woolly sheep, (Merino 

 variety,) will breed and thrive everywhere North-west of it, and the 

 hairy sheep, (long-woolled varieties,) every where South-east of this line; 



