454 REASONS WHY AUTUMN IS THE BEST SEASON 



- Thus, in August, the earth is from 8° to 10° warmer than in 

 October, and in September about 6° higher than in October, 

 •10° to 12° higher than in November, and 16° or 17° higher 

 than in December. 



Here we have a great element of advantage in favour of 

 ■August; for although evergreens will make new roots all the 

 y ear round, if the earth is not too cold, yet it is certain that they 

 will do so much more quickly and abundantly in warmth than 

 in cold ; and 10° form what may be called, without exaggeration, 

 an immense difference in their favour. But, on the other 

 hand, they wiU he seriously obstructed in the operation of 

 forming new roots, even in " bottom-heat," if their leaves are 

 shrivelled up and destroyed: as is always to be dreaded at 

 too early a period of the year. If we examine the facts from 

 which we are to judge of the dryness of our autumnal months 

 we find them to be as follows : — 



Mean degree of dryness according to Daniell's hygrometer, 

 on an average of nineteen years. 



August , 4-45 



September 2-11 



October 1-62 



November 0-93 



December 0*72 



Dryness of the above period according to the hygrometric 

 scale, saturation being represented by 1000. 



August 851- 



September SOS- 

 October 947- 



November 963' 



December 969- 



Mean temperature, average twenty-three years. 



August 62°-17 



September 66°"72 



October 50°'46 



November 43°. 00 



December 39°-76 



These facts show that August is fully twice as dry as Septem- 

 ber, and nearly four times as dry as October ; also that the mean 



