INTRODUCTION. 43 



Winds are in (general warm, becaufe they blow from 

 a warm country ; the north wind is cold, becaufe it 

 blows from a cold country ; the eafl and north-eaft 

 winds are dry, cold, and blighting, becaufe they 

 blow over the high mountains of the continent ; but 

 it is ftill a matter of doubt what fort of weather is 

 likely to attend the winds. 



When covering up the cucumber frames in the 

 evenings, I take a view of the fky, from which I form 

 an idea of what fort of weather is likely to happen in 

 the night, and regulate the coverings and air accord- 

 ingly ; and fometimes at nine or ten o'clock at night 

 I alter the air, by increafmg or reducing it, fo that it 

 may correfpond with the temperature of the night, 

 ak nearly as can be guefied at. 



The bed rule we have for predicting the weather 

 is the inftrument called a Barometer, which was 

 invented by Torricelli, as we are informed, in the 

 year 1643. 



An ingenious author obferves, that, by means 

 of the barometer, we may regain the knowledge 

 which ftill refides in brutes, and which we forfeited 

 by not continuing in the open air, as they generally 

 do, and, by our intemperance, corrupting the crafis 

 of our organs of fenfe 



The following are Mr. Patrick's obfervations on 

 the rifmg and falling of the mercury. They feem to 

 be very juft, and are to be accounted for on the 

 fame principles with thofe of Dr. Halley : 



" The rifing of the mercury in general prefages 

 fair weather ^ and its falling, foul weather, as rain, 



C 6 fnow. 



