boys’ department. 
35 
Crystals of Snow.—Fig. 8. 
variety of shape, as if produced by a kaleidoscope, 
a beauty and regularity that is as little seen or 
suspected by people in general, as if they had no 
existence. By inspecting the diagram I now pre¬ 
sent you, on which are denoted some magnified 
crystals of snow, drawn after nature, you will per¬ 
ceive some of them are simple, while others are 
compound, and that wherever the spiculse are at¬ 
tached, whether large or small, they bear an un¬ 
varying relation to each other ,• although some 
parts may appear round to the eye, on close exami¬ 
nation they will be found to consist of very short 
right lines. The structure of a compound crystal 
of snow, demonstrates that a drop of rain is also 
formed by the union of a great number of smaller 
parts.” 
V Oh ! how beautiful!” exclaimed Frank. “ How 
wonderful are the works of Nature ! It must be a 
pleasing study to observe and delineate the various 
forms of the crystals of snow.” 
“Oh, yes!” said George; “ but it is attended 
with st me difficulty, as they can only be examined 
in the open air; for they are so evanescent in their 
nature, that the slightest elevation of temperature 
above the freezing point, instantly destroys them. 
Even out of doors, unless the weather be very cold, 
the close proximity to the eye, to which they must 
be brought for microscopic examination, is suffici¬ 
ent to obliterate their form. If there is a current of 
mild air through which they pass, they become soft 
and adhere to each other, making those shapeless 
masses which are called flakes. If there is any 
wind, they are blown into minute fragments, form¬ 
ing fine snow. The crystals should be received on a 
dark substance, as the sleeve of your coat, to dis¬ 
play them properly, and even at best they rarely 
exceed an eighth of an inch in diameter, which is 
sufficient to cause them to be overlooked, except by 
those who are accustomed to pry into the minutiae 
of creation.” 
“ I should now like to be informed,” said Frank, 
“ what are the principal uses of snow.” 
“ One of the chief uses of snow,” answered 
George,” “is to screen plants and herbage from 
winter’s chilling blasts. For snow, from its light¬ 
ness, is a poor conductor of heat, which does not 
readily pass through it, or into it, from contiguous 
bodies. There is an old and true saying, which I 
have often heard out grandfather repeat, that, ‘ In 
northern countries, snow is sent by Providence as 
a great coat to the earth.’ The great scene of Na¬ 
ture’s operations, during winter, is below the sur¬ 
face of the ground, where she is preparing the 
germs and roots about to shoot forth,—elaborating 
juices and consolidating parts previous to the active 
vegetation of spring. But, were the ground to be 
left bare, in cold climates, it would be hard frozen 
to a considerable depth, vegetable life would either 
be suspended or destroyed, and the spring would be 
far advanced before the earth could be thawed. 
Hence, to prevent these ill effects, a soft and warm 
covering of snow has been provided to prevent the 
internal warmth of the earth from being carried off, 
the offspring of the very cold, which is to be guard¬ 
ed against, thereby making the evil work its own 
remedy. The plants being thus sheltered, shoot 
forth with renewed vigor in spring ; and, cherished 
by the genial warmth of the sun, put forth with in¬ 
creased luxuriance. Ammonia, and other fertilizing 
substances, are also contained in snow, even when 
taken from the glaciers of Mont Blanc, which like¬ 
wise cherish vegetation by their invigorating in¬ 
fluence. Among the subordinate uses of snow, 
may be reckoned the advantage of having good 
roads in winter, for conveying produce to market, 
drawing wood, manure, &c., benefits by no means 
small, which every Northern farmer well knows 
how to appreciate.” 
“ I thank you, cousin,” said Frank, “ and I hope 
to repay you when you visit me in Georgia.” B 
