236 Meteorological Journal, kept at Marietta, Ohio. 
the hogs luxuriated and fattened, in a wonderful manner; so that 
mauy farmers, whose corn-fields returned nothing for their labor, 
had cause to thank God, for such an abundant supply of nutri- 
tious food in this season of scarcity. Hogs and sheep prefer nice 
white oak acorns to corn, as more agreeable to them, and fatten- 
ing them full as certainly. 
Temperature.—The mean temperature for the year is 54°20, 
being an increase of 1-46 degrees over that of 1853, and 2 above 
the mean heat of this locality. From the long continued warmth 
of the summer and early autumn, we should be led to expecta 
higher rate than we actually find ; but the seasons are so governed 
by the permanent laws of climate, that no very serious, or injuri- 
ous changes can take place. : 
Rain.—The amount of rain and melted snow was 38,5 
inches which is more than the excessive drought of summer would 
seem to indicate ; showing also in this respect the permanency of 
the laws of distribution of moisture and the descent of aqueous 
vapor, that arises by evaporation from forests and the surface of 
the earth. The mean quantity for a year will probably remain 
nearly the same but may be differently distributed amongst the 
several months; less in summer and more in the winter and 
spring, requiring in some portions of the west the construction of 
reservoirs for irrigation during summer droughts, as is practiced in 
ew Mexico and some countries in Asia. . The Ohio river became 
unusually low by the Jast of June, so that navigation was much. 
impeded. ‘During the summer months and all the autumn, busi- 
ness on the river in a manner ceased, greatly to the Joss of manu- 
facturers and traders. Immense quantities of iron and coal lay 
piled up on the banks of the Ohio, until the ice closed the river, 
early in December. Flat boats with produce could not float to their 
usual markets below; the yards of dealers in coal and fuel were 
exhausted in the cities and towns that depend on navigation for 
a supply and great suffering was the consequence of this low 
stage of water for so long a time. : 
Winter.—The mean of the winter months was 33°-13—which 
is rather mild. The mercury sunk to 8° above zero in December 
and to 2° in January, which were the extremes. During. this 
season there fell about nine inches of snow, at different times; 
the greatest fall being not over six inches. It was a singular fact 
that the deepest snow, eight inches, fell on the 17th day of April; 
and at head waters about Pittsburg, over a foot. Also on the 29t! 
of the month at Marietta, four inches, a very rare occurence. — 
_ Spring.—The mean temperature of spring was 539-24, which 
is above the average. The supply of rain was abundant, being 
nearly twelve inches, or about one-third of the amount for the 
whole year. In April there fell with the melted snow five and 4 
half inches, furnishing a liberal supply for the growth of early 
¢ such as grass and wheat. . 
