1861. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



71 



to me that God made farmers to be the ruling 

 class in sobriety. Extravagance in dressing or 

 dashing is enough out of place anywhere. But 

 the lords of the soil must he a sober nobility ; 

 living at the tip-top of all moral, religious or so- 

 cial interests, and exempt from all habits of dis- 

 sipation and fashionable extravagance, if they 

 would realize their greatness. A fashionable fop, 

 compared with a true young farmer, is about like 

 a pauper compared to a king. 



With a little attention, and proper dressing on 

 the land, I have raised some ruta bagas the past 

 season, weighing 14 lbs. apiece, on soil which 

 has been scoffed at as worthless for an age. They 

 were not sowed until about the twentieth of June. 



Pardon the pinches on profligate practices. 



Lee, N. E., 18G0. Comings. 



J<'or the New England Farmer. 



THE HEVIEW OF THE SEASON. 



Mr. Editor : — From the records of the past, 

 we may gather much that is instructive and in- 

 teresting, regarding the period of time on which 

 the farmer depends for his success in the produc- 

 tions of the farm. By comparing this season with 

 former seasons, Ave may see the cause of success 

 or failure in many of our crops. The great drought 

 of 1859 continued till August, 1860, affecting the 

 crops of the past season in a very serious man- 

 ner in this region, but much more so near the 

 shores of Lake Champlain, while at no great dis- 

 tance on either side we have accounts of plentiful 

 crops. 



April had a mean temperature of 41.18 deg., 

 which is not far from the mean temperature of 

 past years. The amount of rain was 0.87 inches 

 — the smallest amount for many years. It fell 

 during seven days, and the greatest amount in 

 any one day was 0.36. Grass commenced grow- 

 ing about the 6th, and made but little progress 

 during the season. The amount of cloudiness 

 was 48 per cent. 



May had a mean temperature of 58.70 deg., 

 and was the warmest May for the past eight years, 

 with the exception of 1859. The amount of rain 

 was 1.23 inches, being the smallest amount for 

 many years. Such extreme dry weather injured 

 the crops materially. The amount of cloudiness 

 was about 54 per cent. The first thunder storm 

 took place on the 7th day — the same day on which 

 the first thunder storm occurred last year. The 

 mercury stood at 90 deg., at 2, P. M., and was 

 the same last year at the same hour. The last 

 frost of spring took place on the morning of the 

 21st day. 



June had a mean temperature of 65.10 deg., 

 which is about the mean temperature for several 

 years past. The amount of rain was 2.54 inches 

 — much below the usual quantity. The amount 

 of cloudiness was about 51 per cent. Rain fell 

 on 12 days, and the largest amount on any one 

 day was 0.71 inches. 



July had a mean temperature of 66.26 deg., 

 which is about three deg. colder than the mean, 

 and is the coldest July of the past eight years. 

 The amount of rain was 4.27 inches — enough for 

 all practical purposes were it not for the extreme 

 dry weather previous. But the ground was not 

 saturated, and was still rather too dry for vege- 



tation. Rain fell on 15 days, and the greatest 

 amount in any one day was 1.01 inches. The 

 amount of cloudiness was about 53 per cent. 



August had a mean temperature of 67.66 deg., 

 which is 1.66 above the mean, and was the warm- 

 est August with the exception of 1859 for the past 

 eight years. The amount of rain was 7.30 inch- 

 es — the largest amount since 1856. Rain fell on 

 13 days, and the largest amount on any one day 

 was 2.07 inches. The amount of cloudiness was 

 about 51 per cent. 



September had a mean temperature of 56.59 

 deg., which is 1.62 below the mean, and is the 

 coldest September in the past eight years with 

 the exception of 1859. The amount of rain was 

 3.52 inches, being about the usual quantity. Rain 

 fell on 13 days, and the largest amount on any 

 one day was 1.37 inches. The amount of cloud- 

 iness was about 50 per cent. The first light frost 

 was seen on the morning of the 2d day, and the 

 first hard frost sufficient to destroy vegetation 

 was on the morning of the 27th. 



The whole amount of rain during the year up 

 to Sept. 30th, was 23.32 inches, and the whole 

 amount from April 1st to Sept. 30th, was 19.23 

 inches. 4.64 inches fell in the first three months, 

 or an average of 1.54 inches per month, and 14.59 

 in the last three months, or an average of 6.41 

 per month. This shows a great drought in the 

 first part of the season, when crops needed rain, 

 and rain enough during the ripening of crops. 

 Summer period free from frost 103 days. Time 

 free from frost sufficient to destroy vegetation 

 128 days. There has been a large proportion of 

 south-east wind during the summer, but no 

 heavy gales, and no severe storms of any kind. 



Since September, the weather has been more 

 favorable. Rain has fallen in abundance. The 

 earth is saturated with water, and the prospect 

 for crops next season is good. The temperature 

 of October was 46.65 deg., being about the mean. 

 The amount of rain was 1.92 inches, and of snow 

 one inch, being somewhat less than usual. 



November had a temperature of 38.92 deg., 

 which is 3.31 above the mean, and is the warmest 

 November for many years. The amount of rain 

 was 4.62 inches, and of snow 2.75 inches. There 

 was but little foddering done in November. 



December up to the present date has been 

 rather cold, but not very unpleasant. The mer- 

 cury passed below zero for the first time on the 

 morning of the 14th, eight deg., and on the morn- 

 ing of the 15th it stood 10 below, which is very 

 unusual so early in the season. At this time the 

 sleighing is tolerable, with a small amount of 

 snow — some four inches, D. Buckland. 



Brandon, VL, Dec. 17, 1860, 



Sleeping and Eating. — Hall's Journal of 

 Health says : "For persons who eat three times a 

 day, it is ample and sufficient to make the last 

 meal of cold bi-ead and butter, and a cup of warm 

 drink. No one can starve on it, while a perse- 

 verance in the habit soon begets a vigorous appe- 

 tite for breakfast, so promising of a day of com- 

 fort." 



All innovation upon established customs is 

 invariably and sturdily resisted, and men are 

 known to fight for their prejudices who would 

 never fight for their country. 



