AMERICAN JOURNAL 
OF 
AGRICULTURE AND SCIENCE. 
CONDUCTED BY C. N. BEMENT, ALBANY. 
VOL. Vn. AUGUST, 1848. No. 7. 
AUGUST IN PROSPECT. 
In warm and dry seasons it frequently happens that this is the 
hottest month of the year, and is frequently so intense as to abate 
something of personal comfort. Not, however, that the sun's 
rays continue to#possess the same power that they did a month 
ago; but when once the ground has become heated and parched, 
and the whole surrounding medium has attained a high tempera- 
ture from a continuance of warm weather, a less degree of inten- 
sity, under such circumstances, is sufficient to make the state of 
the atmosphere oppressive to the feelings. It is dreaded there- 
fore, by many as the least auspicious month in the year, for its 
sultry atmosphere and its tendency to generate disease. Yet 
it may be considered as one of the most prolific months of the 
twelve: and it should be remembered, that a great degree of heat 
is requisite for the growth and maturity of many rich fruits, and 
of the corn and grain which contribute so largely to the support 
and comfort of man. The nights, however, particularly towards 
the latter part of the month, begin to lose their summer sultriness; 
while we often find the pastures have become so parched, and the 
foliage so dried and shriveled, that a premature decay of nature 
seems rapidly approaching; so that by the end of the month the 
bloom of summer may be said to have departed from the land. 
