274 



ON TIIK HYDROLOGY OF THE BASIN 



days, the mean was 49.23°; the maximum, 73.50°; the minimum, 21.50° ; the range 

 being 52° ; and that at and below 32°, there were 8 days ; at and below 49.23°, 58 days ; 

 at and above 60°, 19 days ; at and above 70°, 3 days. 



Of the remaining 122 days, namely, June, July, August, and September, the mean was 

 67.91° ; the maximum, 91° ; the minimum, 45.50° ; the range, 45.50°. That at and below 

 50°, there were 4 days; above 67.91°, 86 days; at and above 80°, 14 days; at and above 

 90°, 3 days. The total number of days in the year below 32°, was 121; the extreme 

 range of the year, between 9 in the morning and 6 in the evening, was 119 r *,°; in any 

 24 hours in the summer, was on July 10th and 11th, 20.50° ; and in winter, January 10th 

 and 11th, 38°. The mean temperature of the water, during the year, was 45.80°; the 

 mean of the month of August was 69°, and of January, 30.50°. And the records show 

 that the temperature of the water for four months, namely, January, February, March, 

 and December, were;, respectively, 30.50°, 30.55°, 31.20°, and 31.90°. The extreme 

 range of the temperature of the water was 46°, — its maximum temperature was 75°, on 

 the 5th of August, and the minimum 29°, on the 8th of February, on which day the 

 minimum atmospheric temperature was also observed. 



The mean temperature of the soil has been observed, for a considerable period, at Bur- 

 lington, in Vermont ; and also at Dr. Smallwood's Observatory, at Isle Jesus, near Mon- 

 treal; and the mean temperature, at four feet beneath the surface, is stated to be 44.70°. 

 The majority of deep springs which have been observed by the author give a temperature 

 of 44°. 



Valuable experiments have been made by Dr. Emmons, at Albany, upon the tempera- 

 ture of the soil, and published in the Reports of the Natural History of the State of New 

 York. These will be studied with interest, in connection with the agriculture of the 

 country. The developments of the curves of temperature give results in a very striking 

 manner. 



With respect to the penetration of the frost into the ground, much depends upon the 

 nature of the soil, and character of the vegetation, or the depth of snow which covers 

 the surface of the earth. But as a general rule, for the guidance of engineers in the 

 country, it is stated that no water-pipes are safe at a less depth than four feet ; and at 

 this depth there were many indications of frost during the existing winter, in the trenches 

 prepared for gas and water-pipes v in the city of Montreal. 



T B M P E II A T U II B O F T II B LA K B S. 



The mean temperature of the deeper parts of Lake Champlain, in winter, is said to be 

 about 40° ; and while the surface is covered with ice, it changes very slightly. In the 



