Meteorological Journal for the year 1841. 345 



the river was free from ice until the breaking up of the Alleghany 

 river. The Ohio has at no time been over its banks ; on the 

 30th of March it was nearly "fall banks." 



The mean temperature for the spring months, was 49.73°, 

 which is several degrees below that of 1840, or that for the aver- 

 age heat of this place. April was uncommonly cool, being only 

 46.66°, while the same month in 1840 was 56.57° — a difference 

 of nearly 10°. The consequence was the retardation of the 

 blossoming of fruit and other trees for several days past the usual 

 period. In 1838, the apple bloomed on the 17th of April, and 

 in 1840 on the 15th ; while this year it was not in full bloom 

 until the 30th of that month, and did not entirely shed its blos- 

 soms before the 20th of May. Other trees were retarded in 

 nearly the same proportion. From the 10th of May to the 11th 

 of June, there fell but little rain, being only about half an inch. 

 The lack of moisture at this season of the year, when the roots 

 of cereal plants are usually in their most vigorous state, was se- 

 riously felt in the crops of wheat and grass, especially the latter, 

 which afforded but a sigiall crop compared with other years. In- 

 dian corn, owing to the cool and dry weather in May, did but 

 barely appear above ground, as late as the 10th of June, and 

 many farmers feared an entire failure of the crop ; but refreshing 

 showers after that period, and the heat of June, soon awakened 

 its dormant powers, and an average crop was obtained in this 

 part of Ohio ; while west of us on the Scioto river, this crop was 

 nearly a complete failure, the drouth continuing in the valley of 

 that stream till late in June. 



The mean temperature of the summer months was 72.41° ; 

 which is nearly 2° above that of 1840. During these months, 

 there was a seasonable supply of rain, and vegetation was healthy 

 and vigorous. The last of June, when the wheat crop had nearly 

 attained its growth, during a period of wet sultry weather, the 

 cuticle of the stem was attacked with a rust or mildew ; it appear- 

 ed to arise from an exudation of the sap, like a heavy dew, on 

 the Ifeaves of forest .trees ; after a few days, the stalks were cov- 

 ered with minute reddish spots of mould, raising quite a cloud 

 of dust when disturbed by the reapers. This took place while 

 the grain was in the milk ; the consequence was, a lack of those 

 nutritious juices which perfect the kernel, and the grain was 

 shrunken and tight, affording an undue proportion of bran when 



Vol. xLii, No. 2.— Jan .-March, 1842. 44 



