354 EFFECT OF SEASONS 



A wet, damp one usually effects the reverse, by 

 occasioning an abundant flow of sap, producing 

 wood and foliage rather than blossom ; and the 

 following spring, in such cases, from the floral 

 vigour being diverted, has generally its blossom 

 weak, and, though perhaps not defective, incom- 

 petent to mature the germen. This is mere rea- 

 soning upon general consequences ; but so imperfect 

 are our theories, and so many circumstances coun- 

 teract the calculations, the predictions of human 

 wisdom, which can rarely even " discern the face of 

 the sky," 1 ' 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 ob- 

 tained. 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 pasture 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 



