422 



SHEEP HUSBANDRY IN THE SOUTH. 



temperature of the year — equally removed from the chilliness of spring, 

 and the sultry heats of the last two summer montlis. But as the altitudes 

 of the latter observations are not given, they present us nothing definite or 

 tano-ilile. A smart walk of a ihw moments up or down a mountain side, 

 would carry one through a variation of temperature amounting to a degree. 

 By the rule of Professor Leslie,* commonly adopted, 300 feet of elevation 

 diminishes the temperature 1° ; but the experiments of Humboldt, Gay- 

 Lussac, and various other observers, have shown that this cannot be relied 

 upon. One degree is usually equivalent to a greater ascent. Mr. Coffin 

 (in the paper before alluded to) deduces the conclusion that in the State 

 of New-York, the ascent necessary to decrease the temperature 1^ is 350 

 feet. Taking the mean of the range of temperature of Asheville, as stated 

 by Mr. B. it gives 77^^ as the average summer temperature of that place, 

 which, as will appear in the table below, is about 10^ higher and warmer 

 than that of New-York for the same season and year, (excepting on the 

 beds of two rivers — the Hudson and Mohawk.) Applying the New- York 

 rule to the region of Asheville, it would require, then, an elevation of some- 

 thin"' like 3,500 feet on the mountain sides above that place, to equalize 

 the temperature with that of the greater portion of New- York. 



To show the entire accuracy of the subjoined table of temperatures, I 

 would remark that it is founded on the Annual Reports of the Academies 

 to the Regents of the University. The observations are therefore made 

 by correct instruments,! on fixed conditions, and by scientific men. I have 

 selected the points indicated in reference solely to a fair latitudinal and 

 geographical distribution over the State ;| and to enable you to find them 

 on the map, the name of the place, instead of the Academy, is given : 



TABLE NO. 6. 



Near the extreme southern point of Long Island. .. 

 i On the Hudson. Elevation not given 



In St. Lawrence County; north part of State. 

 On the Black River 



Both in same county, but given on account of dif- 

 ference in elevation 



In the southern or grazing region 



Do. do. 



Do. do. 



In the heart of the Wheat growiner region 



Do. do. " 



In the grazing region ; on the shore of Lake Erie.. 

 On Niagara River 



The five laat named places are in " Western New-York." 



But there is one fact stated by Mr. Buckley, in relation to the lofty 

 mountains of North Carolina, which, in-espective of all thermometrical 

 observations, demonstrates conclusively, to my mind, their adaptation to 

 sheep husbandry. This fact is, that u-hife clover grows (of course, spon- 

 taneously,) on them. Or perhaps I shoidd rather say, that the mountains 

 themselves become thermometers, their vegetation registering, by a well 

 settled natural law, tlunr temperate climate. Says Make Brun : 



" Under llif burning climate of the toirid zone, we have only to ascend the mountains, to 

 enjoy the fniits und flowers of the temperate regions. Tournefort found at tlie base of Mount 



* Prof. L.'s rule, however, was only niKtle Hpplicnble by him to tropieal regions, 

 t H'llf, probal)ly, of the thormoinoters in common use art> innccurato ! 

 J For the records of tcmperauiros given, gee Report of ihe Regpnt.^, 1843, p. 210. 

 valioua of the Academiea, see Hcport of 1838, pp. 212 to 215, and map. 

 («54) 



For latitudes and ele- 



