1847. 



GENESEE FARMER. 



277 



Meteorology and Meteorological Observations. 



BY L. WETHERELL. 



EvERy farmer is interested in Meteorology; 

 and no class of practical men enjoy so good 

 facilities for making observations in this depart- 

 ment of science as the farmers. The result of 

 their labor depends mainly upon the favorable or 

 unfavorable workings of the laws of meteorology: 

 if these laws work favorably, the result is, with 

 good husbandry, a plentiful harvest and full barns 

 — if otherwise, the result is a stinted harvest and 

 barns to let. The farmer, knowing this, is led to 

 observe closely the passing seasons, and also to 

 compare the present with the past, in order to 

 calculate results bearing upon the future, which 

 will not only affect his own interest, but the inter- 

 ests of all classes of society. 



Now I recommend to every farmer who reads 

 the "Genesee Farmer," to procure for himself 

 a Thermometer, a Barometer, and a Rain Gauge; 

 and that he commence keeping a register of his 

 daily observations made by these instruments, 

 with the exception of the rain gauge — and that 

 he record in this book or register all the impor- 

 tant phenomena which occur, such as high winds, 

 aurora borealis, remarkably cold or warm, wet 

 or dry seasons, and their effect upon crops : also 

 the appeai-ance of spring birds, the progress of 

 vegetation, &c., &c. Every farmer would in a 

 a few years attach great value to a book of this 

 kind; and so would his children, for they not un- 

 frequendy take great interest in this department 

 of useful and interesting knowledge. There is 

 no mystery or difficulty about this, that need deter 

 any one: a little work and much pleasure will be 

 the result of the experiment. Try it, and then 

 recommend it to your neighbor. I speak from 

 experience relative to this matter. I have kept 

 a similar register for more than seven years, and 

 derive no little pleasure and satisfaction from re- 

 viewing it occasionally; and it is not the least 

 part of the pleasure afforded me, that I am ena- 

 bled occasionally, through the medium of the 

 "Farmer," to furnish my brother farmers an 

 opportunity to read by their fire-sides some of the 

 results of these observations. 



The mean temperature of the summer months 

 of 1846, was 68.06 degrees— of 1847, 67°. 



The amount of rain which fell in 1846, during 

 the summer months, was 11.20 inches — 1847, 

 9.97 inches: difference, 1.23 inches. The rain 

 for the autumn of 1846, 13.16 in.— 1847, 12.71: 

 difference in favor of 1846, .45 of an inch. — 

 The number of days on which rain and snow 

 fell in 1846, was 47—1847, 51. 



The general opinion prevails that we have had 

 an unusual amount of rain this autumn, but the 

 read'er will see that the quantity is less than last 

 autumn; and as it regards the number of days 

 on which rain and snow fell, the difference is slight. 



The canal is open; the temperature of the 

 water to-day, 43°. Last year, on the 26th of 

 November, it was frozen, and there were about 

 6 inches of snow. 



There have been several splendid displays of 

 the aurora borealis during the year ; the one on 

 the 19th of March was remarkably splendid, and 

 widely observed over our country. The one 

 last evening was very fine. It is very probable 

 that we shall have many such during the winter. 

 It is thought by many that this wonderful phe- 

 nomenon has an effect upon the weather: how or 

 in what way, or whether at all or not, meteorolo- 

 gists are not agreed. 



Rochester, Nov. 26, 1847. 



To Correspondents. 



Communications have been received, during 

 the past month, from W. A. W., *, L. Manly, 

 C. N. Bement, Wm. Van Dusen, R., N. R. Y., 

 J. Dunham, H., L. Wetherell, A. W. Wheelock, 

 S. Harri?, and A. S. Hermon. 



During the past season we have received sev- 

 eral well written articles on chess, transmutation, 

 &c., but our pages have been too crowded to 

 give them insertion, without omitting more sea- 

 sonable matter. The same explanation is due to 

 the authors of articles on the potato disease, and 

 various other subjects. We hope to make room, 

 during the winter, for a part if not all of the 

 communications we have on file for publication. 

 Meantime we shall be happy to receive contri- 

 butions from former correspondents, and all who 

 may be disposed to communicate the results of 

 their observation and experience for the benefit 

 of the agricultural community. 



The series of excellent articles on " Hydraul- 

 ics for Farmers," by C. N. Bement, Esq., are 

 concluded in this number. We shall be pleased 

 to hear from Mr. B. on other subjects. 



Notices of several books, pamphlets, &c., re- 

 cently received, will be given next month. 



Cole's American Veterinarian. — As none 

 of our Rochester booksellers have this excellent 

 work, we have obtained a few dozen copies from 

 the publishers, — and can now supply the numer- 

 ous persons who have recently inquired for it. 



Densmore's Straw Cutter. — The reader is 

 referred to an advertisement of this valuable 

 machine, in the advertising department of this 

 number. We shall probably give a figure and 

 description of it in our next. 



Sheep. — It is stated that there are one hundred 

 thousand sheep in Addison county, Vermont, 

 which must be driven to other sections of the 

 country to be wintered, or slaughtered. The 

 deficiency of the crop of hay and the ravages of 

 grasshoppers have caused a scarcity of food. 



