Box 14, Folder 4: Climate

310

March 7th, Ranunculus Fascicularis in flower; Peony Humilis, Star of Bethlehem and Jonquils up.-16th, Blue Bird seen, Robins heard to sing; some say they remain here all winter near houses; Hood Anemone, Pasque Flower in blossom.-24th, Meadow Lark seen.-27th, Wild Pigeon seen; Missouri Currant in leaf.-29th, Bee Larkspur in leaf.

April, Frogs singing.-4th, Snow storm.-8th, Farmers sowing wheat.-12th, Spring Beauty in flower.-16th, Dwarf Iris, Dutchman's Breeches, Blood and Pepper Wort in flower.-18th, Wild Geese flying north; Strawberry in blossom; Jonquils in flower.-24th, Asparagus fit to eat; Lanced-leaved and Hood-leaved Violet, Perewinkle, Filbert, and Hyacinth in flower.-25th, Cherry in leaf, Currant in flower.-26th, Missouri Currant, Plum, Cherry, and Pear in flower. 28th, Gooseberry in flower.

May 3rd, Louse Wort in flower.-6th, Box Elder in blossom.-7th, Frogs singing for the second time, having begun too soon before.-8th, Ground Ivy, Flowering Almond in blossom.-9th, Blue Bell Puccoon in flower.-10th, Peach, Tulip, Painted Cup in flower; Baltimore Oriole seen.-12th, American Cowslip and Apple in flower; Burr and Black Oak in leaf-these trees did not blossom this year.-13th, Horse Chestnut in leaf.-14th, Solomon's Seal and Bladder-nut in flower.-15th, Tartarian Fly Honey Suckle in blossom; Locusts began to leaf out.-16th, Crane's Bill, Lilac and Daily in flower.-17th, Blueeyed grass in blossom.-19th, White Moccasin flower, and Dwarf Peony in blossom.-20th, Wild Columbine, Wild Lupine, and White Oak in blossom.- 23d, Mild Weed in flower.-24th, Virginian Anemone, and Snow Ball in blossom.-25th, Canadian Five-finger in flower.-26th, Rose Acacia in flower; Catalpa, and Hercules' Club in leaf.-27th, Fringe Plant, Monk's Hood, and Yellow Moccasin Flower in blossom; Fire Fly and Humming-Bird Moth seen.- 28th, Seneca Snake Root, and Golden Alexanders in flower.-30th, FeverWort.

June 3d, Sweet Scented Syringa, Spiderwort in flower.-24th, Spotted Lilly in flower.

July 15th, One of the two hottest days of the year; thermometer averaging 83 3/4o.-16th, Catalpa in blossom.-20th, Bignonia Rodicous in flower.-26th, The other hottest day; the Thermometer averaging the same as on the 15th.

August 27th, Some report frosts.

September 10th, Splendid Aurora.-28th, Heavy Frost.

October 23rd, Water froze; Ice formed one inch and a half thick.

November 4th, First Snow.-10th, Flos Adonis (an annual) in full bloom.

December 15th, Thermometer at 19o below zero at 5 3/4 A. M.

311

ABSTRACT OF A METEOROLOGICAL JOURNAL

Kept at BELOIT COLLEGE, BELOIT, WISCONSIN, for the Year 1850. Latitude 42o 30'. Longitude 12o W. of Washington. Elevation above Lake Michigan, 172 feet; above the Ocean, 750 feet. By S. PEARL LATHROP, M. D. Professor of Chemistry and Natural History.

[Meteorological Data]

This being the first series of observations made at this place, no accurate comparisons, of course, can be made in any respect with previous years. The past year, however, is regarded by those who have longest resided here, as one of usual temperature through the summer months, and somewhat warmer than common through the autumnal months and December. The temperature of the spring months, however, is thought to have been lower than it is generally.

The mean temperature of the spring months is 42o.08; of the summer months, 71o.50; and of the autumnal months, 49o.57.

The mean temperature for the year 1850 is 47o.20; which is very nearly the temperature of the wells of the houses on the bluff upon which the College is situated.

The density of the atmosphere, as indicated by the barometer, is thought to be too low. This instrument, (as were all the instruments used in making these observations,) was made by Mr. N. B. Chamberlain, Boston, but was somewhat

312

injured in the transporting. It is estimated, from some comparisons which have been made, that its range is about .50 inch too low*.

It ought to be remarked, also, that the latitude and longitude, as well as the elevation of these observations, have not been definitely and strictly established by mathematical observations. They are regarded, however, as being not far from correct.

The observations have been made at the hours required by the Smithsonian Institution, viz.: Sunrise, 9 A.M., 3 P.M., and 9 P.M.

The amount of rain and melted snow for the year is 51.24 inches, giving the large mean of 4.27 inches per month through the year. This amount is much greater than was to be anticipated, from the great number of fair days, and the small amount of falling weather, which is very noticeable by one accustomed to the clouds and mists of the Green Mountains. The remark concerning the West, so frequently heard at the East, that "it rains here only at night and on Sundays," has been rather wonderfully established during the past year, as a large portion of the rain has fallen in the night!

Another fact observed is, that frequently the circumstances, which in Vermont are almost invariably accompanied by rain or falling weather of some kind, here pass away with only a storm of wind of greater or less force. This may be owing to the clouds being dissipated, and their moisture being absorbed by the great sweep of the winds over these extensive prairies. As two-thirds of the rain for the year fell in the three summer months, and one-third in one of these months, the remainder of the year may be regarded as having been rather dry.

The amount of snow which fell in the winter of 1849-50 was less than the usual quantity, being about four or five inches. There was some sleighing for three or four weeks. The quantity of snow, as appears from the observations of those longer resident here, varies greatly in different winters.

The year which has just past [passed] is considered as having been rather more productive than usual. Though the spring was uncommonly backward, yet the temperature was so uniform, that no portion of vegetation was unduly brought forward, and consequently injured by untimely frosts. Fruit, of the various kinds which have been introduced into this new country, did remarkably well, and gave fair promise of the "fruit-full" years to come. It appears to me that this cannot be otherwise than a very favorable country, both on account of soil and climate, for growing fruit of most kinds, such as apples, peaches, grapes, &c.,-- _____

*I have since determined the amount of correction necessary, by comparing with one of Greene's standard barometers, and found it to be .64 of an inch, i.e., .64 is to be added to the numbers in the barometrical column of the preceding table.--Lathrop

313

certainly so, if the last fall can be taken as a criterion of the character of future autumns.

The crops of grain, particularly of wheat and corn-the great staple productions of the southern portions of Wisconsin-are fully equal to those of any previous year. Thousands of bushels of the finest wheat, however, were lost by the great rains of July and August. A large amount of wheat cut down, but not garnered, was never removed from the fields. The farmers, from the great ease of getting seed into the ground, have become too much accustomed to sow more than they can command help to harvest and suitably secure. Another great error is their delaying to garner what is already suitably cured for that purpose, before whole fields are cut down by their reapers. The crop of potatoes was good, and scarcely at all injured by the "rot." The growth and ripening of all the species of Cucurbitaceae was much favored by the constant warmth of the summer months, and, though the roots of the vines were somewhat injured by the rains of these months, yet the amount produced in most cases was very remarkable. As an instance, I would mention a case related to me by a near neighbor, Deacon Woodward, of forty-four ripe and twenty unripe pumpkins being grown, in his garden, upon the vine of one seed!

Another fact worthy of note was observed in the second flowering of several species of plants, as stated in the calendar, and the appearance of grasshoppers so late in the season as the 13th of November. Not having seen these myself, I am unable to say anything of the species, neither am I sure that this fact will be deemed uncommon by naturalists. The Cantharis cinerea appeared in the latter part of June in great numbers. They had been noticed here the two years previous. This year, in many gardens, they completely stripped the potatoe vines of their foliage. No particular injury, however, appeared to arise from this. They also seemed to take much pleasure in feeding upon white clover, which they destroyed in a short time. Their progress was from north to south. They were in such numbers, that a half-bushel of them could have been gathered in a short time with the appropriate means. The chinck-bug, Lygoeus leucopterus of Say, which made its appearance in some of the northern counties of Illinois, and was thought to have done great injury to the wheat crop, did not make its appearance, that I am aware of, in this State.*

There have been during the year several heavy storms accompanied with lightning, the most remarkable of which occurred on the 26th of April.

The atmosphere here is remarkably transparent, so much so, that the stars have an unwonted brilliancy, and seem much nearer to you than in the northern portions of New England.

* If any naturalist wishes specimens of this insect, I shall take pleasure in furnishing them.

314

Another fact observed during the past year, is that of the "rotation" of the wind. The law of rotation, noticed by Dr. Dalton, and more fully developed by Redfield and Dove, that the winds have a rotation from the north to the north-east, then east, south-east, and so through the points of the compass round to the north again, was sustained, with few exceptions. The number of circuits which have been made in this manner during the year, I am unable to state. Not thinking of this law of "rotation" of winds, until reminded of it by the fact here observed, proper care with respect to this point was not had in the observations. In the absence of mountains to act as disturbing local causes, we may have here an opportunity of establishing or verifying this law in this country. Our strongest winds are those from the south-west; next to this the west and north-west. The wind very seldom blows for any length of time from the north-east or east.

FLORAL CALENDAR, &c.

February 3d, The coldest day of the year. The average of the observations of the Thermometer for the day being -3o.50. At 4 o'clock, A. M., it stood at -24o.

March 22d, Star of Bethlehem, Crocus and Snow-drop just coming up.

April 1st, Tulips and Crown Imperial up.-4th, Soil in gardens sufficiently dry for working.-10th, Hepatica Triloba and Ranunculus Fascicularis in blossom.-15th, Pasque flower.

May 1st, Dutchman's Breeches, Squirrel Corn, Adder's Tongue, Sanguinaria.- 5th, Grapes begin to bloom.-11th, Geum Vernum in flower.-14th, Missouri Currant.-17th, Apple, Plum and Cherry.-20th, Flowering Almond.-22d, Tulips.-25th, Dodecatheon Media.

June 5th, Common Syringa in blossom, Hypoxis Erecta.-7th, Double Larkspur, Sweet William, Peonia.-12th, Green Peas plenty.-14th, Garland Syringa in blossom; Strawberries ripe.-17th, Chinese Peonia and all kinds of Roses in blossom.-18th, Eschcholtzia in flower.

July 1st, Currants ripe.-5th, Raspberries ripe.-10th, Wheat harvest commences.-22d, Gooseberries ripe.-25th, Dahlias and Gladiolus in flower.-27th, Harvest Apple ripe.-25th and 27th, The hottest days of the year; the Thermometer on each of these days averaging 82o; at 3o'clock, P.M., the Thermometer stood at 92o.