hi the Tempei'atw'e of Winter. 43 



feet thick •; great snows alternate with heavy rains ; the 

 earth which is covered with snow to-day, is to-morrow 

 left bare ; and an iron surface of this week, is, the next, 

 converted into soft mud. Hence probably as much snow 

 falls in an open country as in a forest ; or if tlie clearing 

 of a country converts more of the vapor into the water, 

 yet it is Hable also to more extreme cold, which preserves 

 a balance in the temperature. That these are facts eve- 

 ry man knov/s, who has observed the difference between 

 the open country and the forest, in our old settlements ; 

 and Dr. Williams himself has given the results of meteo- 

 rological observations which confirm them, and disprove 

 the common theory of a moderation of cold. In page 50 

 of his history, he states the difference between the heat 

 of the earth in an open field, and in tlie woods, during 

 the summer ; by which experiments, it is demonstrated, 

 that from the latter part of May to the close of August, 

 the open country sustains about ten degrees of heat, be- 

 yond that of the forest ; the thermometer being sunk ten 

 inches below the surface of the earth. At another time, 

 he found the winter temperature of the earth in the forest 

 to be 39"^, while, in open field, the earth was froze. The 

 vibrations therefore in the temperature of the earth, when 

 cleared, are found to be m.uch greater than when cover- 

 ed with wood. The differences, according to Dr« Wil- 

 liams, are as follows : 



Winter temperature of the earth hi the -woods in 



Fermont, 59"=* 



of the open field at frost, 32° 



Summer Temperature of the Earth. 



In an open field. In 4:he forest Difference. 



May 23, 50° 46° 4 



28, 57 48 9 



June 15, 64 51 13 



27, 62 51 11 



July 16, 62 51 11 



30, e>5 1-2 55 1-2 10 

 August 15, 68 58 10 



31, 59 1-2 55 4 1-2 

 Sept. 15, 59 1-2 55 4 1-2 

 October 1, 59 1-2 55 4 1-2 



