21 
THE WEATHER FOR APRIL. 
The April which is just now closed, is one of the most singular that ever 
occurred in Britain, and has partaken less of the character usually ascribed 
to that month than almost any which the oldest observer can remember* 
With the exception of a few occasional drops of rain, for we cannot call them 
even gentle showers, it has been a clear, calm, and tranquil month through¬ 
out, partaking more of the repose of a mild autumn, than of the usual turbu¬ 
lence and activity of the last month of the spring. Up to about the middle of 
the month, the wind blew from the east; and there were, occasionally, pretty 
severe frosts in the morning. Still, however, the wind had very little of a 
blighting character, and there was as little that it could blight. Occurring so 
early, it retarded the bloom, and thus preserved instead of destroying it; neither 
did it “ eat the grass of the fields,” as is often said of the east winds in May. 
New moon happened on the 16th, at eight o’clock in the evening ; and early 
on the morning of the following day (Good Friday), Cirri, diverging in streaks 
from the south-west, indicated a change in the upper sky; and soon after, the 
upper atmosphere descended and obliterated the east winds, replacing it by a 
south-west one. This change put an end to the frosts, and the days became 
very warm ; while the nights had also a high temperature for the season. The 
great heat called forth many of the summer animals, which are seldom abroad 
at so early a time ; and as early as the 20th, the nimble lizard (lacerta agilis ) 
was seen on the dry commons in as full activity as if it had been midsummer. 
During the whole month, the sky was made vocal by the blythest song of the 
sky-lark; and some of the native warblers chaunted a note or two during the 
earlier part of the month, but it was not till about a week after the change of 
the wind, that the nightingale broke out in full song, which, however, it did with 
fully more energy than in the average of years. 
Even while the wind continued at east, and there was frost during the nights, 
the grass and the bursting buds did not appear to sustain nearly so much in¬ 
jury as they do from east winds in ordinary seasons; and when the wind shifted, 
almost as much impulse was given to vegetation as is usually given by an 
April shower ; and though the progress was not by so violent a start, it was 
of a surer character; and while we write, every leaf and flower of the season 
which we have had the opportunity of observing, is in most wholesome growth. 
The petals are, perhaps, not quite so much expanded as they are in more 
dripping seasons, but they are more perfect; their colours are clearer; and 
such as are scented, have the scent more fresh and rich. The flowering-shrubs 
which have come into bloom, are very rich and beautiful; and such as are to 
come later, are in a very promising condition. 
The facts which we have stated,—and it must be apparent to every one 
who observes that they are facts,—show that the present season is an anomaly 
among English seasons as they usually occur, and therefore it becomes a ques¬ 
tion of interest to the cultivator, whether of flowers or of any thing else, to 
ascertain the causes of this anomaly. The chief one appears to be, the long 
continued rains, by which this dry and uniform spring weather was preceded, 
and which may be said to have continued, with only partial intermissions. 
