INTRODUCTION. 
93 
Winds . — The remaining table, of the winds, includes only those sta- 
tions for which observations are complete for at least two years. There 
are others which it was desirable to add on account of their represen- 
tative character, had their series of observations on this point been 
sufficiently complete and extensive ; but enough are given to bring out 
the chief peculiarities of at least each of the principal subdivisions of the 
State, so far as this can be attempted in a partial and preliminary dis- 
cussion. The direction only is given, and not the force, as the former is 
the more important characteristic in a region where violent and de- 
structive winds are so entirely unknown, the average force, even in the 
most elevated and exposed parts, as at Boone, for example, being less than 
1.8 for January, and not more than 2 (of the Smithsonian scale, that 
is “a gentle breeze ”)for any month of the twelve, and the greatest force re- 
corded at this point (in two years) having never passed 5 (or “a high wind”). 
Indeed, the chief difficulty in obtaining complete records on this point 
arises from the fact that most observers till a large part of the blanks 
with the entry zero , the breeze being a large part of the time insensible, 
except to close and patient observation. The figures in the table, opposite 
each of the letters indicating the points of the compass denote the num- 
ber of days of the month (or season) at the top of the column during 
which the wind blows from that direction. These numbers were obtained 
by adding all the observations for the month, of each direction of the 
eight points of the compass, and dividing the result by three. The 
bioken column of alternate figures and blanks, to the right of the columns 
for the seasons and year, are obtained, as will be obvious on inspection, 
by adding to the numbers, opposite which they stand, (in those columns), 
the numbers next above and below, as explained by the last column of 
the table, in the words northerly , easterly , dfcc. 
21 
