1867. 



NEW ENGLAND FARMER. 



675 



tratcs the subdued murmurings of the unquiet 

 sea. 



It is the Sabbath. The winds are still. 

 From the farm-house chimney the smoke rises 

 slowly and perpendicularly to the sky. The 

 orioles' nests, — long since deserted by their 

 summer occupants, — hang motionless from the 

 drooping branches of the yellowing elms. The 

 surface of the river is unmoved by the slightest 

 ripple, and the overhanging willow on the far- 

 ther shore is well-nigh as visible in the water 

 beneath as in the air above. There is no rus- 

 tling of the maize-leaves ; all silently the yel- 

 low fields await the coming of the gleaner. 

 We breathe the atmosphere of dreamland. 

 The earth is at rest. And as we hear the bells of 

 Salem pealing forth their far-reaching and har- 

 monious summons to the worship of narrowing 

 and discordant creeds, we cannot but pray for 

 the speedy coming of the time when the bells 

 of the true City of Peace shall ring glad tidings 

 to all mankind. Essecker. 



Salem, Mass., Oct., 1867. 



For the New England Farmer. 



METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS. 



The following meteorological observations 



for July, August and September were taken 



for and under the direction of the Smithsonian 



Institute : — 



July. 



The average temperature of July was 68° ; 

 average midday temperature 75°. The corre- 

 sponding averages for July, 1866, were 73° and 

 82°. Warmest day, the 28th, averaging 80° ; 

 coldest days the 18th and I9th. averaging 59°. 

 Range of temperature from 53° to 90°. 



Average height of mei'cury in the barome- 

 ter, 29.20 ins. ; average do. for July, 1866, 

 29.21 ins. Highest daily average, 29.51 ins. 

 Lowest do. 29.01 ins. Range of mercury, 

 from 28.99 ins. to 29.53 ins. 



Nine rainy days ; . amount of rain, 4.70 ins. 

 There were no cloudless days ; on three days 

 the sky was entirely overcast. Eleven rainy 

 days, with 4.97 ins. of rain. One cloudless 

 and one totally cloudy day in July, 1866. 



The month was singularly propitious to ag- 

 ricultural interests, and at the same time emi- 

 nently ctmifortable and healthful. The differ- 

 ence between the average temperature of July 

 1866 and 1867 is remarkable. The similarity 

 of the rain, rainy days and barometrical aver- 

 ages are worthy of note. 



August. 



The average temperature of August was 68° ; 

 average midday temperature, 77°. The cor- 

 responding averages for August, 1866, were 

 64° and 72°. Warmest day, the 7th, averag- 

 ing 77" ; coldest day, the 3 1st, averaging 56°. 

 Range of temperature from 42° to 86°. 



Average height of mercury in the barome- 

 ter, 29.23 ins. ; average do. for August 1866, 



29.16 ins. Highest daily average, 29.40 ins. 

 Lowest do., 28.97 ins. Range of mercury 

 from 28.94 ins. to 29.44 ins. 



Fourteen rainy days ; amount of rain 5.87 

 ins. There were three cloudless days ; on 

 four days the sky was entirely overcast. Fif- 

 teen rainy days with 5.97 ins. of rain. One 

 cloudless, and one totally cloudy day in Au- 

 gust, 18li6. 



While July was cooler this year than last, 

 August has been about enough warmer to make 

 up an average season. The weather, as to 

 rain, &c., was singularly like that of same 

 month last year. The usual cool snap during 

 the last week was experienced, but no frost oc- 

 curred. 



September. 



The average temperature of September was 

 58° ; average midday temperature, 67°. The 

 corresponding averages for September, 1866 

 were 59° and 67°. Warmest day, the 18th, 

 averaging 73° ; coldest day, the 30th, averag- 

 ing 42°. Range of temperature from 33° to 

 80°. 



Average height of mercury in the barome- 

 ter, 29.32 ins; average do. for September, 

 1866, 29.26 ins. ^ Highest daily average 29.62 

 lowest do. 29.02 ins. Range of mercury from 

 28.96 ins. to 29.65 ins. 



Ten rainy days ; amount of rain, 2.10 ins. 

 There were five cloudless days ; on no day was 

 the sky entirely overcast. Fifteen rainy days 

 with 7.18 ins. of rain. One cloudless, and five 

 totally cloudy days in September, 1866. 



While the temperature of the month aver- 

 aged almost exactly the same as last year, the 

 weather was very different as may be seen by 

 the above comparison. The amount of rain 

 was very small for September with no "equi- 

 noctial storm." A fine season for harvest- 

 ing. A. c. 



Claremont, N. H., Oct. 18, 1867. 



For the New England Farmer. 

 DOMESTIC TRAINING. 



If there is a need of Agricultural Colleges, 

 where young men shall be taught the theory 

 and practice of successful farming, surely 

 there is an equal, if not greater need of simi- 

 lar institutions where young ladies may be 

 taught the equally important theory and prac- 

 tice of housekeeping. 



Without doubt, the best place for domestic 

 training is home ; the best teacher a judicious 

 mother. But some mothers are incompetent, 

 and many, from various causes, indisposed to 

 give their daughters thorough instruction in 

 the manifold duties of housekeeping. Some 

 consider it too much trouble. They find it 

 easier to go on and do up the work themselves 

 than to have their giils "round in the way." 

 Others are proud of the lily hands and attenu- 

 ated waists of their daughters, and to prehcrve 

 in them those excellent qualities, they are wiil- 

 ine to make slaves of themselves. It would 



