Meteorological Journal at Marietta, Ohio, for 1847. 251 
were destroyed in a few hours. The crops of Indian corn were 
late in ripening, owing to the cool weather in August and Sep- 
tember, which two months combined, were fourteen degrees lower 
in temperature than those of 1846. This important grain, how- 
ever, finally matured very well, escaping the action of severe 
rosts. The crops of apples and peaches were nearly all destroy- 
ed by a frost on the 18th of April, when the latter were in full 
bloom, and the former just ready to open. As this was not the 
regular bearing year for apples, they were more easily killed. 
The crop of grapes was much injured by the excessive rains of 
July, causing a mildew on the leaves, and the rotting of the fruit. 
This desirable fruit is now considerably cultivated in this vicin- 
ity, especially the more hardy varieties. Horticulture in its vari- 
ous aspects has many votaries among us; and within a few years, 
a great change has taken place in the taste of the inhabitants, for 
the ornamental as well as the really useful. All these ameliora- 
tions refine the heart and the manners, and are new sources of 
contentment and happiness. ; 
he amount of rain and melted snow is 52:30 inches; which 
is six inches more than in 1846; and even that year was several 
inches above the mean quantity. Twenty-five inches of rain 
fell in the four last months of the year; of which nearly eleven 
fell in December, causing the extensive floods in all the western 
rivers, more general than at any former historical period. 
The mean temperature of the winter months is about five de- 
grees higher than the last, the Ohio River remaining open for 
havigation. The greatest cold was two degrees below zero, on 
the 12th of January, when the ground was covered with five 
inches of snow. It remained cold for a week, causing consider- 
able floating ice, but did not stop the running of steamboats. 
Very little ice was laid up for summer use, none being made over 
three or four inches in thickness. ‘The remainder of the winter 
was mild and pleasant. 
ine mean temperature of the spring months was §1°-81, 
Which is below that of the preceding year. April was nearly 
three degrees warmer than in 1846. ‘This season however was 
mild and pleasant, not marked by any unusual deviation from its 
ordinary course. Frosts more or less intense are expected when 
the peach and apple are in blossom along the immediate vicinity 
of the Ohio River, and on the 18th of April a visitation of this 
ind destroyed nearly all the fruit in this and the adjacent river 
counties. On the higher grounds some miles back, much fruit 
_ floral calendar for 1847, migration of birds, Sc.—February 
20th, blue-bird heard; 21st, honey-bee at work; 22d, robin 
appears, 
be Szconn Series, Vol. V, No. 14.—March, 1848. 33 
