Effects of the season of 1816. 157 



from the want of heat, more than the want of moisture, 

 was late in opening, and consequently more than half de- 

 stroyed for the purpose of bread, by the frosts in Octo- 

 ber. 



Buckwheat, from the long continued drought after 

 harvest, was very unproductive. Spring barley, even on 

 rich bottom lands, was also of small yield. Early gar- 

 den vegetables succeeded very well, though late in com- 

 ing to maturity, particularly cabbages, which had been 

 planted in the previous autumn. The first crop of po- 

 tatoes was very productive, and of good quality, in lands 

 rich enough to bear them; and all esculent roots flourish- 

 ed well, except the Carolina, or sweet potato, which fail- 

 ed in a great degree, almost universally. The latter crop 

 of Irish potatoes was very much reduced in yield by the 

 want of rain after harvest ; otherwise, the quality of the 

 ordinary standard. 



Melon vines, of every kind, failed much in quantity 

 and quality, from the cold more than the want of rain. 

 The water melon was very inferior in size and quality. 

 The pumpkin, cucumber and squash were also very un- 

 productive. 



As to fruit, the garden grapes were fine and productive. 

 The early appearance of apples, promised abundance, but 

 the excessive latter drought diminished their size, and 

 caused many to fall. Peaches were generally fewer in 

 quantity, and inferior in size and flavour. 



On the west side of the blue mountains, the limestone 

 soil being of a warmer nature than the soil on the east 

 side of the same mountains, the want of heat in the atmo- 

 sphere did not produce such injurious effects in the growth 

 of corn ; and the crops in that country may be consider- 



