44 [Assembly 



But over the northwestern States, injurious frosts had occurred 

 in August; not much injurious on the 17 and 18th; in Illinois, 

 more injurious on the 25th, as stated by the papers; very severe 

 on the 29 and 30th over part of Missouri and Illinois and the 

 States northward. The section most injured is reported from 

 actual statements to have been in Illinois, between the parallels 

 of 40 and 42 degs., or between the latitudes of Springfield and 

 Chicago, and from the Mississippi eastward into Indiana. The 

 damage was less in this belt in Missouri ; but considerable on 

 the north of the belt in all the northern States. The injury was 

 great to Indian corn and sorghum, and nearly equal to tobacco, 

 rather greater in proportion ; to buckwheat entirely ruinous, 

 and nearly so to cotton, even south to Union Co., Illinois, and 

 the frost was operative in western Kentucky on the more delicate 

 plants. This cold period ranged from north to south, and the 

 weather was milder in eastern Indiana. The frost was more 

 severe on low grounds, moved somewhat in streaks, lighter or 

 none on high grounds, as is found to be true commonly from the 

 less quiet state of the atmosphere, and the sinking of the cooler 

 and heavier air into the lower places or valleys. The injury as 

 a whole was reckoned at 25 per cent. It may not be easy to 

 assign a reason for the cold being less on the west of the Missis- 

 sippi, in the same latitude. We know however that the cold 

 changes sometimes begin near the west side of Lake Eris, and 

 extend to the Atlantic; sometimes at Lake Michigan; sometimes 

 from near the line of the Mississippi ; and at others from the 

 Rocky Mountains. Doubtless the same great forces are operat- 

 ing in each case, but sometimes farther east, and sometimes 

 farther west. 



The general prosperity of the agricultural interest, is matter 

 of high congratulation and gratitude, as we think of this third 

 year of the rebellion against the United States, the necessary 

 supplies of our brave soldiery, the provision of the kinds of all 

 military stores, the necessary demands of taxation, and the 

 general purpose to bring to an end by force this reasonless war. 

 Turning to the harvests of the three years past, we behold the 

 grand provision made by Divine Providence, to support the vast 

 expenses caused by this unnatural and unnecessary rebellion. 



Connected with the meteorological and agricultural review, 

 should be the grateful notice of the general prevalence of good 

 health over the country, in the army and navy, in the field and 



