Or. J. Porter's Floral Calendar, ^c, 2T,^ 



BOTANY. 



Art. VII.— jPYomP and Miscellaneous Calendar for Plain- 

 field, Mass. 100 miles West of Boston, (hat. supposed 

 about 42° 30' JV. and Lon. West from Loud. 73° — more 

 than 1 00 miles from the ocean — country hilly and elevated,} 

 by Dk. Jacob Porter. 



Remark. — Floral Calendars, very much in detail, having been objected to 

 by some persons, the editor has selected only what he supposed the author 

 deemed the most interesting observations, from a calendar still more in detail. 



It appears by this Journal, that in the course of five months, about 

 Ivventy rainy days occurred, and in the same pei-iod there were fourteen 

 cloudy and foggy days, but without rain. The notices of temperature, and 

 weather being unaccompanied with any thermoraetrical observations, have 

 been generally omitted, except where some connected circumstances ren- 

 dered them interesting. — Ed. 



1819. — Jan. 24. — Common chickweed partly, and hair- 

 cap moss fully blown. 



Feb. 8. Before this date, the roads were settled and trav- 

 elling good. 



26. Heavy snow. 



March, 17, IS. Snow in some places ten or twelve feet 

 deep, and so hard as to bear men and animals. 



April 2. The first blue-bird seen. In some places the 

 snow is still above the tops of the fences, entirely conceal- 

 ing them. The farmers are now tapping their sugar-maple 

 trees, which are very abundant here, and furnish the domes- 

 tic supply of sugar ; the tapping of the trees began before 

 March 26. 



3. Warm. The song of the robin heard for the first time. 



7. Summer bird heard to sing. 



11. The aments of the alder and poplar considerably 

 swelled. 



13. At sunrise a very large and beautiful rainbow. The 

 ground is about two thirds bare, though in some places, the 

 fences are entirely concealed by the snow. Several chirp- 

 ing birds are seen. 



14. The first butterfly seen ; the bees are also beginning 

 to venture abroad and the song of the marsh quail has been 



* The dates may be considered as being generally those that relate to the 

 earliest events of the kind. 



Vol. III„..No. 2. 3.5 



