250 
RETROSPECT OF THE SEASONS. 
That the importance of discharging trains may be appreciated we extract the 
following lines from Dr. Faraday's New Researches : — 
“A good train was arranged by connecting metalically a sufficiently thick wire 
with the metallic gas pipes of the house, with the metallic gas pipes belonging to: 
the public gas works of London, and also with the metallic water pipes of London. 
It was so effectual in its office as to carry off, instantaneously, electricity of the 
feeblest tension, even that of a single voltaic trough, and was essential to many of 
the experiments.” An apparatus so delicate as that required for the refined experi- 
ments of the Eoyal Institution, cannot be necessary to the gardener or agriculturist, 
where an immense electrified surface is exposed to another of equal extent and 
power. All that is demanded is to elevate the point of attraction, and to see that the 
radiating system of wires at the bottom is always so deep as to insure the presence 
of moisture. Whatever may be thought of our hypothesis, or of the expense attend- 
ant upon its practical application, it will scarcely be doubted that the contingency of 
the loss of £500 worth of glass is worthy of being taken into the argument. 
The above is a digression from the subject contemplated; but the consequence 
of the storms of August recurring to recollection, led us on to allude to a mode of 
prevention, which is worthy of strict attention, if the authority of many practical results 
be deemed valid. 
The winter of the horticultural seasons assuredly begins in November: the 
leaves are then entirely shed, the roots are torpid, and that season of rest which 
experience proves to be of the greatest moment to all plants is quite established. 
Astronomy may require that the four quarters of the year date from the earth’s 
ingress into the four leading signs which correspond pretty accurately with the 
shortest and longest days ; intermediately also with those wherein the sun rises and 
sets about six o’clock ; but gardeners should calculate their seasons according to the 
condition of plants as influenced by the inductive agencies of nature. 
In the year 1844, at the date we start from, (November 31st,) every circumstance 
gave warning of a very severe winter, and it is well known that the anticipation was 
amply realised ; for, with the exception of a portion of January 1845, all nature was 
locked up in frost, and the forcing gardener was tasked to the utmost extent of his 
vigilance to maintain any degree of temperature consistent with security and pro- 
gress. Nor was this a matter of wonder, in so far that, to say nothing of the 10, 
20, 25 degrees of frost, the sun was obscured for several weeks by a persistent 
covering of clouds. 
In 1845, at the same period the temperature was mild, with three only very 
slight frosts during the last week of November ; there were also three days more or 
less rainy ; with plenty of sun at intervals. In December the weather became 
periodical. Thus from Nov. 30 to December 13, the sky was nearly cloudless, the 
barometer above the changeable mark, but rarely 30 inches, the wind being westerly, 
generally brisk. After the 1 2th clouds obscured the sun ; it was a period of gloom- 
There were three hazy days, and as many of bright sun. The average temperature 
