METEOROLOGICAL DISCOVERIES. 203 



now steps in and reveals additional light; and, while at present, from want of 

 stations, we cannot deny but what the warm ocean-currents have something to 

 do with the mildness of the climate, say of our northern Pacific Coast, it does 

 reveal to us that it is not all owing to these currents, but that the position of 

 " Low" has much to do with it and perhaps more than ocean-currents. Land 

 retains heat better than water. To the north of the United States there is a vast 

 domain of land. The map reveals to us that one belt of "Low" passes far to 

 the north of Cape Mendocino, and that the line of this belt varies with the sea- 

 sons, while the currents remain about the same the year round. Now if the cur- 

 rents remain stationary and the course of " Low " varies with the season it would 

 seem to be good proof that this phenomenon was independent of these currents. 

 This same phenomenon reveals the cause of the peculiar climate of California; a 

 revelation that was not in the power of the old physical geography system to 

 make known. From early in the season till towards the winter months the north 

 " Low," the one that enters the coast to the north of Cape Mendocino works far 

 to the northward. The one that enters the coast to the south thereof also ad- 

 vances northward. From winter to spring these two belts work southward with 

 the Sun. The higher the Sun in the ecliptic the higher the belt of " Low." 

 "High" lies between these two belts and a good part of the year is over the 

 region of San Francisco. The course of these belts varies, for this reason the sea- 

 sons of this section of the country vary and are never twice alike; but as a rule 

 "Low" passes over this locality quite often from December to April. The 

 higher the Sun in the ecliptic the higher the line of "Low," and the higher the 

 line of "Low" the warmer the temperature on a high line of latitude, and the 

 reverse. Until we had this new revelation it was not possible for us to under- 

 stand these phenomena of nature. By these discoveries, which come through 

 years of patient toil and advance towards perfection in other branches, we are 

 able, as never before, to comprehend the system of nature under which we live. 



Of course this system comes generally under the head of physical geography, 

 and physical geography should include meteorology as a department includes a 

 bureau. But the department, strange to say, has ignored the bureau, and the 

 perfection of the bureau has come through sources quite unlooked for ; and though 

 disregarded by the department has quietly advanced towards perfection most sur- 

 prising. It would be wise in the department to now accept the bureau. As the 

 case stands at present the bureau has fast exceeded the department — a most 

 peculiar circumstance in the annals of science. 



It is to be hoped that more and more attention may be paid to this subject. 

 What meteorology now calls for is more and more stations in localities where they 

 will be of the most value. The more we have the more valuable the system be- 

 comes, and it would seem that it was time the nations of the earth took this sub- 

 ject in hand. The more universally it is extended the greater the blessing it will 

 confer upon all, the small territory as well as the large, the large as well as the 

 small. 



The great middle stratum of our universe is what we particularly want knowl- 



