NORTH AND NORTHWEST OF THE VALLEY OF THE MOHAWK. 



27 



TABLE in. Comparison of the forwardness of the seasotis, toith the average of the State during the same years. 



REMARKS ON THE FOREGOING TABLES. 



Here, with the exception of Ogdensburgh and Plattsburgh, we have all the characteristics 

 of a more rigid climate : low mean temperature, extreme cold in winter, great range of 

 the thermometer, backward seasons and early frosts. The temperature is not, however, 

 much lower on the whole than is due to the latitude and elevation of the places of obser- 

 vation. Gouverneur is colder by over 1°, and appears to be the coldest place but one in the 

 State from which reports are received. In regard to extreme cold in winter, it stands 

 unrivalled, and that with almost perfect uniformity every year. The observations at 

 Ogdensburgh were taken but for a single year ; but if that is a foir specimen, its tempera- 

 ture is more uniform and less liable to extremes of heat and cold than the average of the 

 State. This may be accounted for by the equalizing influence of the St. Lawrence river, 

 which is a mile and a quarter wide at that place, and scarce ever freezes over in the winter. 

 On the other hand, it maintains a considerably lower temperature than the surrounding air 

 in the summer season. Being composed of so vast a body of water, its temperature is but 

 slowly affected by that of the country through which it passes ; and it partakes, in con- 

 siderable degree, of the uniformity of Lake Ontario in this respect.* 



The following statement in regard to the temperature of Lake Ontario, will be of service 

 in enabling us to estimate its influence on the climate of the surrounding country. It is 

 deduced fiom experiments made under the direction of Prof. Dewey of Rochester, in the 

 years 1837 and 1838, and shows the mean of eight observations, taken every six or eight 



' See Observations on the temperature of the St. Lawrence, published in the Regents Report for 1S38, page 218. 



