NATURE OF STORMS. 29 



degree is the same at Fort Snelling, Minnesota, and 

 at Boston ; while there is a difference in the latitude 

 of these places of two and a half degrees. The 

 autumn of the former is colder than that of Boston ; 

 therefore, if we possessed no more information, we 

 should determine that the growing season was 

 shorter and colder than that of the Atlantic coast, 

 and that fruits which succeed near the latter would 

 not flourish in Minnesota. But we must remem- 

 ber that the eifect of ocean upon the coast in the 

 spring is to cool it ; and, consequently, that the 

 ground at Fort Snelling becomes sensible of the 

 warm spring sun much quicker, and is free from 

 the cooling influence of the water all summer. The 

 mean spring temperature is like that of Southern 

 Connecticut or New York. Those fruits which 

 hardly reach maturity in the Northern Atlantic 

 States, ripen fully and much earlier there, because 

 the heat of spring and summer is so much more 

 intense. 



From the manner in which altitude, exposure, 

 and the presence of bodies of water affect climate, 

 the importance of considering atmospheric influences 

 in the selection of sites for our orchards must have 

 become evident. Let us investigate further the gen- 

 eral phenomena which produce good or bad results 

 in the growth of fruits. 

 « 



1. The nature of storms. The difference in these 

 3* 



