240 EFFECT OF SEASONS 



earth, but winters in the clefts of the boughs far beyond 

 the influence of this wash, it remains uninjured, to com- 

 mence its ravages again when spring returns. 



Seasons arrive and pass away, the general features 

 alone remaining impressed upon our minds ; but they 

 often produce consequences not commonly expected, 

 and a departed summer or winter has frequently been 

 the cause of some event, which we consider as exclu- 

 sively occasioned by atmospheric changes, or present 

 temperature. A warm dry summer generally occasions 

 a healthy spring blossom the ensuing year, the bearing 

 wood being ripened and matured to produce in its most 

 perfect state. A wet, damp one usually effects the re- 

 verse, by occasioning an abundant flow of sap, pro- 

 ducing wood and foliage rather than blossom ; and the 

 following spring, in such cases, from the floral vigor 

 being diverted, has generally its blossom weak, and, 

 though perhaps not defective, incompetent to mature 

 the germen. This is mere reasoning upon general 

 consequences ; but so imperfect are our theories, and so 

 many circumstances counteract the calculations, the 

 predictions of human wisdom, which can rarely even 

 " discern the face of the sky," that results must more 

 often be looked for than known. The recording of 

 events is the province of the naturalist ; and perhaps 

 occasionally by comparing existing circumstances with 

 past events, something approximating to probability 

 may be obtained. The two burning summers of 1825 

 and 1826 are remembered by all; but it was in the 

 succeeding year only, that the result of this heat and 

 drought was manifested to us, by effects upon our pas- 

 ture lands, which we did not expect. Not only in those 

 on the limestone substratum, but in many that were 

 sandy, and in the clayey which were chapped by the 

 heat, the roots of the grasses, which we have generally 

 considered as not being subject to such injuries, were 

 destroyed in some cases, and greatly injured in others; 

 and in their places frequently sprang up crowfeet 

 (ranunculus acris, and bulbosus), and dandelions, a 

 mere useless vegetation, which, as long as the grasses 

 flourished, were kept in subordination and obscurity by 



