and its Effects on the Plants there. 63 



assumed its usual character, and, instead of snow, the rain fell in 

 torrents, as it does in the tropics, so that it was with difficulty 

 that persons in the open air protected themselves from it. On 

 the 27th the warmth diminished by degrees, so that the thermo- 

 meter fell to — 6° Reaum. (19° Fahr.)at the end of December. 

 The wind, however, was always varying from east to west, the 

 weather dull and foggy ; so that there was not a single day 

 which had not an injurious effect on man and plants. The 

 plants in the green-houses were often so covered with moisture, 

 that the houses were obliged to be heated in order to dry them. 



From New Year's day the wind blew more from the north 

 and north-east, the weather cleared up, and the cold increased 

 on the 2d to — 9° Reaum. (11° Fahr.). The first snow fell on 

 the 5th of January, when the thermometer was at — 4° Reaum. 

 (23° Fahr.) ; it was small, and not in flakes, which indicates 

 continued cold; and on the 9th the glass was at — 15° Reaum. 

 (1° below zero Fahr.) ; on the 15th at — 16° Reaum. (3° below 

 zero Fahr.) ; and on the 23d morning, at six o'clock, the cold had 

 increased to — 19i° Reaum. (12° below zero Fahr.). It snowed 

 again between the 14th and 15th, but not much ; and clear 

 days and nights followed, accompanied by an almost continued 

 north and north-east wind. The covering of snow in this neigh- 

 bourhood, at this time, did not amount to more than scarcely 

 half a foot in thickness, through which the cold could easily 

 penetrate, and, therefore, great fears were entertained for plants 

 in the open air. Those on the contrary, under glass, were re- 

 vived and strengthened by the beneficial rays of the sun. The 

 whole of January was equally cold ; and it was only on the 29th 

 at noon, that the glass rose to +2° Reaum. (36° Fahr.) ; and on 

 the 31st, at the same hour, to +4° Reaum. (41° Fahr.), and 

 at night it fell again below zero Reaum. (32° Fahr.) On the 

 same day the wind veered to the west, and brought snow, which 

 was followed by rain in the evening, and held out the hope 

 that the glass would rise, as we were now in February. The 

 barometer was seldom in unison with the weather, and when 

 it fell to 3 10'" on the 26th of January; we had, indeed, foggy 

 days, but no wind. 



A thaw ceased to be looked for on the 2d of February, as the 

 cold recommenced, and the thermometer indicated — 15° Reaum. 

 (1° below zero Fahr.) on the 8th, accompanied by some snow. 

 On the same day the wind veered from the east to the south, and 

 at midday the thermometer had risen to + 3° Reaum. (38° Fahr.); 

 and on the 9th, at the same hour, to +10° Reaum. (54° Fahr.), 

 accompanied by south wind, and beautiful sunshine, so that it 

 thawed during the night. From the 10th to the 12th of Feb- 

 ruary the thermometer began to fall, after the wind had changed 

 to the west, and some snow had fallen. On the 13th the wind 



