56 SATURDAY LECTflJKS. 



dium Selago, are found in similar situations on tho two moun- 

 tains, only about 1,000 feet lower on Mount Washington. 



As would be expected from the flora, the contrast between 

 the temperatures of these different mountains is very strik- 

 ing. 



On one of my last visits to Mount Washington, July 12. 

 the mercury stood at 36°, and the wind was blowing at tho 

 rate of' 40 miles an hour. 



While on Roan, during nine weeks from June to Septem- 

 ber, the mercury once indicated 75°, seven times only was 

 it above 70°, once it was 45°, and only three times was it 

 below 50°. Three days out of five the daih' extremes 

 would bo comprised between 55° and 65°. 



The equability of barometrical pressure was noteworthy, 

 the mean height of the mercurial column being a little less 

 than 24 inches, while the highest was 24.19, the lowest 

 23.87, or a variation of only .32. The corrected mean of all 

 the observations compared with those of the nearest station 

 of the Weather Service, at Knoxville, Tenn., gave 6,391 feet 

 as the height of the summit. 



As a result of this equability of barometric pressure, was 

 noticed an absence of high winds quite remarkable at 

 that altitude, and quite in contrast with my experience at 

 Mount Washington. At no time, so far as I could judge, 

 did it reach a velocity of 20 miles an hour, and seldom 

 more than from 5 to 10. 



Nor, except in one place, was there any indication of the 

 occurrence of a tornado in the past. 



It is not surprising that this absolute exemption from heat, 

 with the slight variation in barometric pressure should be 

 found to give absolute exemption from " hay fever." And 

 it is not, perhaps, beyond the limit of scientific induction to 

 hazard the prediction, that among these southern Appa- 

 lachian mountains and plateaus will be established many a 

 sanitarium, located as regards altitude and exposure, to meet 

 the needs of those afllicted with various forms of pulmon- 

 ary, bronchial and nervous diseases. 



