64 Winter of 1837-8 at Munich, 



returned to the north-east, aud the cold increased considerably 

 till the 16th ; and between the 16th and 19th, during a north- 

 east and west wind, there was such a fall of snow, that in a short 

 time it lay several feet thick on the ground, so that in the morn- 

 ing it was obliged to be shovelled away from the houses. On the 

 20th, early in the morning, during a cold east wind, the thermo- 

 meter was at — 14° Reaum. (zero Fahr.), which made it almost 

 impossible to remain in the open air ; but the warm rays of the 

 sun were beneficial to the green-house plants. In this manner 

 the month drew to a close, without a breaking up of the ice ; on 

 the contrary, the few mild days, by a partial thaw, followed by 

 frost, produced such a hard crust of ice on the snow, that only a 

 continuation of south wind and rain could melt it. 



February, on the whole, was not so cold as January, but it was 

 more changeable, and more snow fell. The greatest degree of 

 cold in this month was 15° Reaum. (10° below zero Fahr.) ; while 

 in Vienna, between the 19th and 20th of February, the degree of 

 cold was — 19^° Reaum. (12° below zero Fahr.) It was remark- 

 able that the barometer, which on the 10th of February in the 

 evening was at 3\0'"-'63, was on the 11th at noon at 310'"-31 ; 

 and since the 20th of October, 1825, and the 25th of February, 

 when it was at 306 ///, 93, not the most trifling consequence en- 

 sued, or at least was not observed here. 



The thaw which was not effected in February, was accom- 

 plished in March, as the temperature in the beginning of that 

 month rose from +3° to 5° Reaum. (38° to 41° Fahr.), accom- 

 panied by a west wind, and warm rain ; which soon caused the 

 two months' covering of ice and snow to disappear, and presented a 

 welcome scene to the eye. Rain and snow followed, which speed- 

 ily unfettered the icy bands of the soil ; and the winds of March, 

 which succeeded, prepared it for cultivation. 



It may be seen from this account that the preceding winter at 

 Munich can by no means be said to have been severe, although 

 of long duration, which, indeed, surprised us, as we are ac- 

 customed to a continued change, and, according to all appear- 

 ances, we may anticipate another normal (average) year. 



As soon as the weather permitted, I examined the fruit trees, 

 and tender shrubs, and found, to my great joy, that the un- 

 protected vines, peach, apricot, pear, or plum trees, had not 

 suffered at all. 



I next examined the state of the forcing department. Al- 

 though the commencement of winter was so favourable, the dull 

 foggy days towards the end of December and beginning of Janu- 

 ary were very injurious. There was, therefore, but little to 

 be seen in the kingdom of Flora : even the hyacinth, the Due 

 van Thol tulips, and polyanthus narcissus, which used to be seen 

 every where at the New Year, were but rarely met with. Mr. 



