278 Farmers' Miscellany. [Oct., 



come from those parts and assist us through harvest, previous to 

 cutting their own crops. With us the wheat harvest generally 

 begins about the middle of July, but this season, which was 

 unusually early, wheat was cut on the 9th of that month. 

 Deep snows are uncommon, snow rarely falling to a depth of 

 more than a foot, and a large portion of the winter the ground is 

 nearly bare. The last winter was uncommonly severe, the snow 

 falling on the night of the 14th and morning of the 15th of Feb- 

 ruary to the depth of nearly three feet. This lasted until the 

 3d of March, when thawing commenced under the warm sun, 

 raising to life flies, and other insects of the diptera order. On 

 the 4th the snow was reduced to about a foot in depth, and on 

 the 10th spiders made their appearance, the sun being pleasant 

 and warm. Small spots of earth becoming visible. The 13th 

 the ground was bare, excepting w^here the snow had been 

 drifted. The snow went off so sudden, accompanied by heavy 

 rains, as to cause large floods on all the streams, which did 

 much damage in many places. On the 14th the blue birds 

 (Silvia sialis, Wilson) made their appearance, they being among 

 the feathered race with us the first harbingers of spring. The 

 next day brought the red-winged starling, (Sturniis predatorius) 

 accompanied by the friendly robins [Turdus mig7'atorius). The 

 20th several species of sparrows arrived, and plowing commenced 

 among farmers. On the 24th many insects were in motion, and 

 a family of caterpillars were in life upon an apple tree. For the 

 month of March 1846, the mean barometer was 29.3 1 



Max. alt., 29.74 

 Min. alt., 28.75 



Mean thermometer, 36.67 



Max. alt., - - 61 



Min. alt., - - - 6 



Rain, 1.81. 



Jlpril 1st. Meadow larks [Sturnus ludovicianus), turtle doves 



Columha carolinensis), king fishers {Jllcedo alcyon), made their 



appearance, and the pools of water were noisy with the croaking 



frogs. The 4th the alder and maple w^ere in full bloom, also the 



