NEW YORK. 



2td 



distance into the country. In the northern part the shores are rocky, and the face of the island 

 strongly marked by abrupt crags and ravines, hills and valleys, insulated rocks and marshy 

 inlets. The gneiss rock, which is much used for side-walk pavements and the foundations of 

 uuildings, is found in abundance here. Small quantities of porcelain clay have also been found 

 upon this island. 



7. Baijs and Harbors. The seacoast of New York is nearly all comprised within the shores 

 of Long Island, which contain a few harbors and inlets, but none that are much frequented by 

 shipping. The bay or harbor of New York is very safe and capacious ; its boundaries toward 

 the sea are Long Island and Staten Island ; it extends eight miles below the city, and is from 

 a mile and a half to five miles broad ; it embosoms several small islands on which are fortifica- 

 tions. The Hudson enters this bay from the N. The East river, or channel between New 

 York island and Long Island, communicates with Long Island Sound on the E. The Kills, a 

 strait between Staten Island and the Jersey shore, communicate with Newark Bay and the river 

 Raritan on the W. ; and the Narrows open into the Atlantic toward the S. At low water, the 

 entrance by the Narrows is somewhat difficult for large ships, and the entrance from the Sound 

 is obstructed by the rocky strait of Hell Gate. There are several harbors on Lake Ontario, 

 the most noted of which is Sackett's Harbor toward the east end of the lake ; it is deep and 

 safe, and was an important naval station during the war of 1812. Oswego has a good artificial 

 harbor, and Buffalo, Dunkirk, and Portland, on Lake Erie, have similar works. 



S. Climate. As this State embraces a wide extent of territory, stretching from the lakes 

 of Canada to the Atlantic, it must of necessity exhibit considerable diversities of climate. A 

 district of level country around New York allows the sea-air to penetrate far inland. Along 

 the Hudson as far up as the Highlands, the climate is little different from that of the seacoast ; 

 but beyond the mountains, the mild and damp winds from the sea do not penetrate. Below the 

 Highlands, the prevailing winds are southerly through the summer, the weather is variable, and 

 the changes of temperature, governed by the winds, frequent and sudden. The humidity of 

 the air, thus brought in from the sea, produces frequent showers in the middle and eastern 

 region of the State. After two or three days of sultry weather, with the wind from the south, 

 the clouds gather round the Catskill Mountains and fall upon the country in thunder-gusts ; to 

 this process the southerly part of the State is indebted for all its supplies of rain during summer. 

 In winter, spring, and autumn, the rain and snow come in a great measure from the S. E. or 

 between E. and N. In the northern part, near the St. Lawrence and Lake Champlain, the 

 weather is less variable, and the winters are long and severe, with a clear and settled sky. In 

 the western parts, from the Catskill Mountains to Lake Erie, southwesterly winds prevail in a 

 great proportion throughout the year ; easterly winds are nearly unknown. In this region the 

 average temperatures are about three degiees higher than in the same latitude further east. 

 With these distinctions kept in view, the following particulars, which relate to that portion of 

 the country around Albany, may serve to give a distinct idea of the climate in most parts of the 

 State. The rigors of winter commence about the 20th of December, and end with February, 

 or by the lOdi of March, at which time the ice in the Hudson usually breaks up. Between 

 April 15th and May otli, most of the migratory birds appear ; and the lilac opens its blossoms 

 from the 12th to the 30di March, with tlie appearance of the robin and blue-bird. The phebe 

 bird and chimney-swallow appear about the 15th April ; the barn-swallow, martin, king-bird, 

 igle, kingfisher, and lark, from the 15th to the 25th, with the opening of the peach blossoms, 

 rhe apple and pear are in bloom by the 25th or 30th x\pril. The usual range of the thermom- 

 eter in the middle of the day, from April 10th to May 15th, is between G4 and 72. In sum- 

 mer, 90^ is a high temperature, and never continues but for a few days. Early wheat is cut 

 about July 12th, and the wheat and rye harvest are completed about August 15th. Buckwheat 

 is cut in October. Maize ripens from the middle of September to the 10th or 20th October. 

 Oats are reaped about the middle of August. Hay is cut from the 4th to the last of July. 

 The seed for winter rye and wheat is sown from the 20th August to the last of September. 

 The thermometer in September often stands at 90^. From the middle of March to the last 

 of April the weather is variable, and the changes of temperature great and sudden, though it is 

 generally rainy, with long storms and easterly winds. May is a variable month, with the first 

 half usually wet. In June die summer begins, and .July is subject to drought. August is 

 showery, with the greatest uniformity of temperature of any month in the year. The same 

 weather continues to the 15th or 20th of September ; in this month there is commonly an 

 equinoctial sfcim. October is extremely pleasant, and is die best month for traveling except 



