178 
THE CULTIVATOR. 
The economy of the threshing machine is readily un¬ 
derstood, when we compare the cost per bushel as above 
stated, with the cost per bushel when threshed by the 
flail, and cleaned through the fanning mill. There are 
incidental benefits, also, of much value, such as prompt 
separation for market before winter sets in,—saving in 
weight—no destruction by rats aud vermin,—no loss of 
interest;—it gives abundant time to house or stack the 
straw for our stock. 
In all estimates for work dene by our machines, we 
ought to charge about 10 per cent, on the cost of the 
machinery, for its wear and tear annually; and in this 
case, we must distribute this charge rateably between 
the crops of wheat, barley, rye and oats, or whatever 
crops are subjected to its operation. 
Thus far, it is hoped that farming, when conducted 
under a system where the labor is performed by well- 
constructed machines, or implements, is proved to be 
economical, and necessarily more profitable. After the 
consideration of a few more important implements, I 
propose to enter upon the easy task of censuring the 
want of system ; but in such a manner, I hope, as to 
create a desire for order and method. Agricola. Se¬ 
neca Co., May, 1849. 
®l)e Season. 
The Winter and the April snow storm. 
Eds. Cultivator —The early part of November, 
1848, will long be remembered and often quoted by the 
oldest inhabitant for the severity of its frosts. In ma¬ 
ny places the mercury fell to 2° and 3° below zero, and 
the ground froze as solid as though midwinter had dri¬ 
ven the mellowness of autumn into a hopeless grave. 
Dark clouds floated over the atmosphere, and frequent 
snow squalls fully indicated that the power of the 
northern storm-king was in no way relaxed through 
the kind influences of summer. About the middle 
of the month the earth was whitened with its win¬ 
try vestment, and though the cold was less severe, 
the snow remained upon the ground for several 
days. The evening of the 17th is memorable for the 
luminous and beauiful Aurora Borealis which contin¬ 
ued to increase in interest until ten o'clock. The 
streamers were of unusual brilliancy, and followed each 
other in such rapid succession that they gave a life-like 
appearance to the whole northern horizon. But what 
was most interesting in this night's phenomena was the 
“ Corona ,” or union of beams at a common centre, but 
entirely separate from the long streamers of the north. 
Although light clouds were floating in the atmosphere 
and the night was moonless, the degree oflight was much 
greater than that of the full harvest moon. Indeed, the 
power of light was so great that a person might have 
seen to pick up a pin or a needle in the streets without 
difficulty. The greatest degree of light occurred about 
half past nine o'clock. 
Whether these lights have any influence on the fu¬ 
ture state of the atmosphere, or are in any way con¬ 
cerned in the production of storms, is a point of some 
importance in the economy of meteorological operations, 
and we rejoice that men of leisure and science in dif¬ 
ferent parts of our country have the matter in investi¬ 
gation. It will be admitted by all any way observant, 
we believe, that atmospheric changes, and often very 
great ones, follow the appearance of these beautiful 
corruscations. When seen in autumn, the season when 
they are most commonly visible, they have become the 
proverbial heralds of cold. Cool weather followed their 
appearance in this instance, though of a more severe 
nature than that which preceded them. 
Early in December the bands of this premature win- 
JUNE, 
ter gave way, the frost broke up, the ground settled, 
and everything savored too much of spring. The 
amount of freezing in the month was very limited, and 
many farmers plowed as convenience dictated, until the 
20th of the month. Sheep refused hay until that time, 
and neat cattle preferred rambling abroad to the con¬ 
finement of the yard. The sun shone in mildness, and 
vegetation in many instances, started into new life. 
On the night of the 22d, snow fell on the unfrozen 
earth to the depth of six inches, and an increasing cool¬ 
ness of atmosphere was the consequence. The night 
of the 23d, was the coldest thus far experienced in the 
season, with fresh wind from the northwest; 24th, wind 
changes to southwest, and blew a searching chilling 
gale; 25, warm and thawy in the morning, with a hea¬ 
vy driving rain in the afternoon, which spoiled the 
sleighing. At evening, wind changed to the northwest 
and blew a heavy gale for 24 hours; 27th, snow com¬ 
menced falling at noon from north, and continued until 
it fell four inches; 29th, snow again to the depth of 5 
inches from the south, which again makes the sleighing 
fine. 
January 1, cool with a light breeze from the N. W.; 
2, tremendous blow which piled the snow in mountains 
along the fences and in the highways, after which k 
continues cold for several days. A thaw came on the 
22d, which spoiled the sleighing in places where the 
snow lay as it fell, or was partially blown off; 24th ? 
the weather grows cold again. 
February was a month of unparalleled severity. But 
few mornings in that month, was the mercury standing 
above zero, while in many instances, it sunk io 10° and 
12°, and in one or two to 20°'. It was a month of uni¬ 
form pinching cold, attended with but few storms, but 
of uniform good sleighing. 
March was of a lamb-like character through its dura¬ 
tion, cool but not blustering. South winds and: fogs dis¬ 
solved the snow rapidly about the20th, and by the close 
of the month, the ground was nearly naked even where 
the deepest drifts had accumulated in the storms of win¬ 
ter. A light snow of some three or four inches in 
depth, fell towards the close of the month, but with the 
mud beneath and the sunshine above, it was soon dis¬ 
solved. 
April came in with mildness, and the sunshine and 
dry winds argued that the reign of mud would soon be 
past. The 5th was a warm, smoky, spring-like day, 
and the merry birds sang sweetly in its sunshine. On 
the 6th, it changed to cooler; 10th, mild and agreea¬ 
ble, plowing commenced on warm drylands; 12th, colcS 
with dark clouds flitting from northwest; 14th, colder 
weather comes on, dark heavy clouds overspread the 
horizon, giving frequent squalls of snow, attended by a 
high northwest wind; so intense is the cold that the 
ground begins to freeze at 2 o’clock, P. M.; at night, 
freezes hard, so that the rumbling of a wagon is loud 
and heavy. 15th, wind continues high through the day, 
with lighter clouds, which give frequent squalls; the 
ground did not thaw at all that day, and small streams 
were frozen over. 16th, a dark murky day, with very 
frequent squalls, wind high from northwest; 17th, clear 
with a keen air, and the sun shining faintly, as if ob¬ 
scured by snow; 18, stiff breeze from the southeast, 
frost nearly out of the ground at noon; clouds heavy; at 
4 o’clock, P. M., commences raining, with the wind 
high; at ten minutes past 5 o’clock, wind changes to 
northeast, and snow commences falling moderately; con¬ 
tinues to snow through the evening, but melts as fast 
as it falls; at nine o’clock on the morning of the 19th, 
snow measures eight inches deep on a level, and conti¬ 
nues to fall rapid, until eleven, after which the fali in a 
measure subsides; at 3 P. M., done snowing, though 
the wind continues northeast, mild, snow wasting. 
It may be fairly estimated that in this storm, mora 
