THE GEKESEE FARMER. 



Notes on the Weather from April 15th to Mat 16th, 

 I860. — The first half of April was a degree above the 

 mean temperature, and the last half near two degrees 

 below the mean ; so that the average of the weather is 

 nearly half a degree below that for April in 23 years, or 

 is 43.5'', being 2° warmer than April, 1859. 



Most of the snow and rain fell in the first half of the 

 month, and gave, in the whole, 1.79 inches— much less than 

 the average for this month. 



A thunder-shower before 3 A. M. on the 17th ; thunder 

 heavy and hard rain fo"" a few minutes. Air quite cold all 

 day, and cold, raw winds and weather followed. Rain on 

 22d and 23d, followed by a cold period and snow on the 

 24th, which killed the fruit of the early maples. Quite a 

 frost on. the 28th. The 30th had the highest temperature 

 at noon, 73'', but the day was equally warm on the 20th, 

 the average of both being 58°. On the 25th, cotton was 

 injured by frost at Memphis, Tenn., and a little later at 

 more southern fields. 



Vegetation did not advance rapidly except on the 20th, 

 and the last two days of the month. Apricots in bloom 

 on 16th, and some cherries on the SOth. Adder tongue 

 and Wake Robin flowered near the middle of April ; and 

 the common elm is full of fruit, as it blossomed early. 

 The fields of wheat look flue, and the grass is starting well. 



Fields have been planted about the city for early pota- 

 toes ; lettuce and spinage abundant the last week, as the 

 former is raised under glass. 



The heavens in the west have been brilliant from the 

 presence of- Jupiter, and of Venus now near her greatest 

 elongation, and the constellations of Leo, Orion, and the 

 star Sirius, etc. The occultation of Venus by the moon 

 on the 24th was not visible here on account of clouds, but 

 that of Jupiter on the 27th could not be seen at this lati- 

 tude, though Jupiter came too near the moon to be visible 

 in the moon's light v.'ithout a telescope. Wonderful are 

 the works of God in the heavens and on the earth. 



May began warmer, as April had closed quite warm, 

 though the first four days were colder than any till the 

 15th. The first half has been uncommonly warm, near 

 1.5" warmer than the same part in 1859. From the 4th 

 to the 8th of Maj' last year, for five days, the heat was 

 greater than the hottest in the present half, but it contin- 

 ued one day longer this year, that is, from the 4th to the 

 9th, or six days. The hottest was 83°, but last May 86~, 

 and the hottest mean of a day 63.3", but last year in May, 

 73°. The vegetation was very rapid, last year as well as 

 this, in this half of the month. 



Mean heat of this half, 61.4°, while that in 23 years was 

 53.2° — the warmest first half of May for 27 years. 



The blossoms of cherry and peach fell off a week prior, 

 but the pear, apple, quince, old red cherry, etc., give high 

 beauty to nature. The four varieties of lilac {Syringa), 

 and the rare plant Judas Tree {Circis), are covered with 

 bloom. The garden plants in bloom are very numerous. 

 Cucumbers, protected under glass at Lockport, have 

 been, in market for near a fortnight, and are now plenty 

 at a good price on the 15th. 



The drouth, which began to be dreaded, ceased on the 

 rain of the 10th and 11th. 



The fields of wheat give good promise of abundance. 

 The farmers must have had a fine time for their spring 

 work. 



Last Tear's Crops in Ireland. — Mr. Donnelly, the 

 Registrar-General of Ireland, has just published tables 

 showing the estimated average of the crops in Ireland for 

 the past year. There was a great diminution in the yield 

 as compared with the previous year. The cereals fell ofi' 

 9,468,152 bushels ; potatoes 562,702 tons, or " about sufFi- 

 cient to supply every family in Ireland (averaging five 

 persons to a family,) with a stone of potatoes each day for 

 nearly two months and a half." The only crop showing 

 an increase is flax, which yielded 3,994 tons above the ■ 

 produce of 1858 ; but this was owing to 44,636 acres more 

 having been sown in 1859. The Jfark Lane Express, of 

 a late date, remarks that this falling off ol the trops in 

 Ireland "is very likely, indeed certain, to have an influ- 

 ence on the price of wheat should the present summer 



prove unpropitious." 



•■•.• 



Fifty Thousand Sdbscribers to the Genesee Farmer. 

 Thanks to our numerous friends who havfe kindly under- 

 taken to act as agents for the Genesee Farmer, we confi- 

 dently expect to be able soon to announce that it has fifty 

 thousand subscribers. Let all our friend who are pleased 

 with the paper recommend it to their neighbors who do 

 not now take it, and ask them to give it a trial fur the 

 coming six months, commencing with the next number. 

 If they would do so vi^e shall soon have what we aim at — 

 fifty thousand subscribers. Recollect we will send five 

 copies for one dollar, and a copy of the Bural Annval, 

 prepaid by mail, to the person getting up the club! 



On the last page will be found still greater inducements 

 to form clubs. 



Light Land and Light Crops. — An auctioneer was sell- 

 ing a lot of land. " Gentlemen," said he, " this the most 

 delightful land ; it is the easiest land to cultivate in the 

 country — it is so light — so very light. Mr. Parker here 

 will corroborate my statement; he owns the next patch, 

 and will tell you how easily it is worked." 



" Yes, gentlemen," said Mr. Parker, " it is very easy 

 to work it, but it's a plaguey sight easier to gather th* 

 crops !" 



Fruit-Growers Society op Western New York. — The 

 June meeting of this Society will be held at Bufi'alo, June 

 27 and 28. There is no more useful Society than this, 

 and we hope the meeting will be largely attended. There 

 will be an exhibtion of fruits. See advertisement in an- 

 other column. 



Cuts for Sale. — We are preparing a book of impres- 

 sions of the wood cuts used in the Genesee Farmer and 

 Rural Annual. It will be sent to all who wish it on thei 

 receipt of six cents to pay postage. An index is given 

 showing where descriptions of the cuts will be found. 

 »•« 



The Rural Annual and Horticultural Directory, 

 1860. — This beautiful and useful work will be sent to any 

 address on the receipt of 25 cents ; and any one who gets 

 up a club of five subscribers to the half-volume of the 

 Farmer will receive a copy of the liural Annual free. 



The number of horses in the world has been estimated* 

 at fifty-seven and a half millions. 



