231 
WEATHER FOR NOVEMBER. 
The whole characters of the seasons immediately preceding, together with 
the early fall of the leaf, and some severe colds in the latter parts of September 
and in October, gave promise, according to the most usual course of seasons, 
that the winter would be both early and severe. But nature has so many ways 
of counteracting those results which, according to the general tenor of our 
partial and limited experience, we most confidently anticipate, that we ought 
always to insert a saving clause in our predictions. This is somewhat morti¬ 
fying to our pride; but it really gives us more in the improvement of our 
industry than we lose in the other way—by compelling every cultivator to observe 
the weather for himself, regulate his operations accordingly, and never mind 
the almanack. 
In the few r remarks which from month to month we have made, we have 
always endeavoured to draw the attention of our readers to the great humidity 
of the preceding autumn, winter, and early part of the spring,—to the cooling 
of the earth to a considerable depth by this means,—and to the consequently 
diminished radiation of heat during the nights. This rendered the nights 
colder during the warm months than they are in the average of years ; and if 
the southern and middle latitudes of Europe had kept as dry as they often do 
in October and the early part, of November, the cold winds from the northern 
countries would have set in early, with frost and snow; and Britain, more espe¬ 
cially the south-east of England which lies nearest to the continent, would have 
come in for a share; and that share would have been extended and prolonged 
in proportion to the strength and duration of the cold winds. 
It seems, however, that the bottom cold of the more southerly lands has 
retarded, if not prevented this. The withdrawal of the sun in declination into 
the southern hemisphere, has been, from the diminution of heat radiated from 
the earth, productive of greater cold in southern Europe than occurs at the 
same season in the average of years ; and the result has been that the atmo¬ 
sphere, rendered less able to keep humidity suspended, has poured down 
deluges of rain which, in many places of France'especially, have produced 
inundations, which have done considerable damage. Almost simultaneously 
with these there have been falls of snow in the extreme north of Europe ; while 
in the intermediate parts the atmosphere has been kept in great agitation. At 
sea, the effects of this atmospheric disturbance have been most serious. The 
wind has at times blown hurricanes ; and these have come unexpectedly, and 
with something of the character of “ tiff’oons ” in monsoon seas. In fact, the 
rains in the south of Europe have borne more resemblance to the seasonal 
rains of a monsoon, than is usual in this part of the world. 
Upon land in Britain, there has been a great deal of rain, but it has alter¬ 
nated, in whole days or portions of days, with dry weather; and though there 
have been a few flakes of snow, and a little frost during two or three nights, 
yet the temperature has upon the whole been moderate for the season. The 
soil is wet, certainly, and where retentive it is very much so, though not so 
much on the average of soils as might have been expected. This is partly 
owing to the alternation of fair weather, and partly to the character of the rain, 
which has fallen more violently and less continuously than autumnal rains 
generally do; and therefore it has run more off the surface, and soaked less 
into the soil. Hence, the danger of rotting is not so great to bulbous, tuberous, 
