458 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



Oct. 



drops of rain as they fell. They will smell a rain 

 squall a hundred miles, or even further off, and 

 scud for it with almost inconceivable swiftness. 

 How long sea-birds can exist without water, is 

 only a matter of conjecture, but probably their 

 powers of enduring thirst are increased by habit, 

 and possibly they go without for many days, if 

 not for several weeks. — California Spirit of the 

 Times. 



For the New England Partner. 

 THE BABOMETEE,. 



Although one of the web-foot fraternity, yet I 

 take a deal of pleasure, and gain considerable in- 

 formation in perusing your valuable paper. I have 

 noticed lately, inquiries of the usefulness of the 

 barometer on a farm. 1 am no farmer, but hav- 

 ing been a constant observer of that instrument 

 for fifteen years or more, I give a few remarks for 

 those who are interested, from my own experience. 

 Henry Ward Beecher's laudation of the instru- 

 ment would lead one to suppose that with the 

 barometer for a guide, they would know precisely 

 when it would rain or not. My experience does 

 not lead to such conclusions. The words on the 

 barometer, "Set Fair." "Fair," "Stormy," &c., 

 are no guide whatever, as the barometer, proper- 

 ly graded, seldom falls to "Stormy," or rises to 

 "Set Fair;" neither does a fall in the barometer 

 always indicate rain ; or a rise, fair weather ; it 

 may be owing to a change of wind — an increasing 

 or moderating wind — or it may be owing to a 

 storm or changing weather going on at some dis- 

 tance from us, but which may pass us by without 

 any change of weather in our immediate vicinity. 



With a southerly wind and a low barometer, we 

 often hear people say, "How heavy the air is," 

 because it causes depressed feelings ; but the cause 

 is, the lightness of the air, with which the barom- 

 eter (showing the snecinc gravity) stands lower 

 than with a northerly and bracing air, in which it 

 is really heaviest, causing the mercury to rise. 



With a "north-west wind," a falling barometer 

 generally indicates a change to south-west ; with 

 a rising barometer, it indicates a change to north- 

 east : with which wind, in fine weather, the bar- 

 ometer stands highest ; and a falling barometer 

 with the wind north-east, indicates a change to 

 the south, or rain. With a south wind, a falling 

 barometer indicates, sometimes, more wind, or 

 rain ; and it seldom rises before a change to the 

 west ward, or north-west. But these rules are by 

 no means invariable, and the barometer can only 

 be depended on as an aid to form a judgment of 

 what the weather may be, by those who have 

 studied its variations for at least one year ; and 

 then they may very often be mistaken. As an aid, 

 it has been very valuable to me as a shipmaster ; 

 but to a farmer who is inexperienced in its use, I 

 think an investment in hay caps would pay much 

 better ; in fact, I have been deceived so often by 

 its apparent indications, that I am almost tempt- 

 ed to say I never would use one again — but as it 

 has been the means of saving many sails and 

 spars, perhaps life, I still advocate its use by 

 shipmasters. 



I have known many heavy squalls and showers 

 to pass unnoticed by the barometer. On one oc- 

 casion I experienced quite a severe gale, and rain 



tinually rising barometer. This was in the vicin- 

 ity of New York. The farther from the equator, 

 the more the weather affects the barometer ; and 

 a south wind in south latitude has the same ef- 

 fects on it as a north wind in north latitude. 

 There are many kinds of barometers, from the 

 costly mercurial to the cedar and pine wood ones 

 by the Mexicans, or a cracked bone of the human 

 system. I heard of a captain v.'ho said he could 

 tell by the skull of his second mate, (which had 

 been fractured) when a storm was approaching, 

 better than by any barometer. My experience 

 has been Avith the mercurial and aneroid barome- 

 ters ; generally considered the best. Hoping to 

 see an account of some of the new kinds, and 

 their usefulness, by those who have used them, I 

 remain, yours, Jack Crosstrees. 



Boston, Aug7ist 16, 1860. 



Remarks. — Thank you. Captain Jack, you are 

 the very man to tell us about the barometer. In 

 an easy chair and slippers, how we should like to 

 hear some of your ocean "yarns" in connection 

 with that instrument. Please write again. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 FLO"WEH.S. 



Mr. Editor : — Having noticed in your issue 

 of July 14 the inquiry of Mary as to the varie- 

 ties of flowers best adapted to our New England 

 seasons, I offer for her benefit, as I hope, some of 

 my experience in that line. 



To select from among manj^ things that I have 

 for some time proved, as well as from more recent 

 acquisitions, those which endure without any es- 

 pecial care the cold of our winters, would dis- 

 pense with many which must ever be favorites 

 with the lover of flowers, and yet embrace very 

 many of our choicest varieties. 



Of the earlier blooming plants, the Narcissus 

 and Tulip must ever prove desirable, both of 

 which I have in their perfection, without trouble, 

 the first white, and very fragrant ; the last red, 

 yellow and variegated. 



Nearly or quite at the same time I have the 

 Iris, white and yellow, the Ragged Robin, rose 

 colored. Dwarf Phlox and Paionies, of which 

 there are many varieties ; those, however, which 

 I have cultivated longest, and prize very highly, 

 being white, pink, rose-scented and single. 



For hardy vines I have the Clematis or Moun- 

 tain Fringe, Trumpet Honeysuckle, (monthly,) 

 and Calistegia, this last bearing double, rose- 

 colored flowers about the size of a damask rose, 

 and continuing in bloom until severe frosts take 

 from our gardens all that makes them beautiful. 



Of Roses, some dozen of the choicer varieties 

 should by all means be included. Of Lilies, or- 

 ange, straw-colored and white. This last is more 

 nearly allied to those requiring protection during 

 winter than any other here mentioned, but so ex- 

 quisitely beautiful and so fragrant, that for all 

 care needed the grower will be most amply re- 

 paid. 



The Wax Flower, white, though grown by me 

 this season for the first time, will I presume, from 

 its appearance, prove hardy. The Canterbury 

 T^flV^, 'vh'^n ^i-nvri in vW s^nf^ps, f"n"^ white to 



