28 REVIEWS — CLIMATOLOGY OF THE UNITED STATES. 



Climatology oftlie United States and of the temperate latitudes of tlie 

 North American Continent, embracing a full comparison of these 

 with the Climatology of the temperate latitudes of Europe and 

 Asia, and especially in regard to agriculture, sanitary investiga- 

 tions, and engineering, loith isothermal and rain charts for each 

 season, the extreme months, and the year, including a summary of 

 the statistics of meteorological observations in the United States, 

 condensed from recent scientific and official publications : By 

 LoRiN Blodget, Member of the National Institute, &c. 

 Philadelpliia, Lippincott & Co.; Triibner & Co., London, 1857. 



In tlie prosecution of meteorological enquiries the United States 

 deservedly hold a high rank. In the collection of meteorological 

 data by fixed stations, as well as by surveying and exploring expedi- 

 tions throughout the wide area of the union, an enlightened zeal has 

 been ever manifested by the several public departments as well as by 

 private individuals ; and in contributions descriptive or explanatory 

 of particular phenomena, the scientific literature of that country has 

 been remarkably fertile. We are not, however, aware that prior to 

 the publication of Mr. Biodget's book any attempt has been made to 

 present to the world in a connected whole the large mass of 

 materials which the industry of so many observers has called into 

 being. 



On this account if on no other Mr. Blodget, as pioneer in the work of 

 compilation, merits the thanks of scientific men and of the world at 

 large. His book bears marks of great acumen as well as of industry ; 

 it abounds in important facts and is highly suggestive, and as such 

 well deserves to be recommeuJed for a close and careful examination. 



In saying this we do not engage to endorse every opinion enter- 

 tained by the author. In a science so essentially progressive as me- 

 teorology many views must at best be held provisionally, subject that 

 is, to be discarded or to be matured by extended observation. In 

 Mr. Biodget's book we have a stem round which the fruits of future 

 research may appropriately cluster, and glad shall we be if the work 

 of grafting as well as that of pruning should fall to the lot of Mr. 

 Blodget himself. 



For the accomplishment of his task the author has brought ex- 

 perience of no common order : the aptness which he had exhibited 

 ♦ for investigations of this kind procured for him some time ago the 

 appointment of superintendent of the reduction of the meteorologi- 

 cal observations made under the auspices of the Smithsonian Insti- 



