Mean temperature of each month, and of the year, deduced from observations made at sunrise, noon, and sunset of each day. Range at noon, 92. Range at sunset, 83. Range during the year, 109. Warmest sunrise, September 13, 68. Warmest noons, June 30 and September 10, 84. Coldest noon, January 30, 8. Coldest sunset, January 30, 7. Coldest day, January 30; mean temperature, 83. Months. METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS MADE AT LITCHFIELD, CONNECTICUT, FOR THE YEAR 1851. 28.27 50 4 54 50 9 59 19.5 11.5 10.5 17.5 10 8 33.60 66 12 54 16.5 42.14 68 20 48 14.5 15.5 52.52 83 25 58 60.31 92 39 66.33 88 49 14.5 16.5 14.5 10 2 53 21 17 14 16 32 68883 20 18 10 16 9 4 W. and NW.. 8 5 10 Last fall of snow in spring, May 5 and 6. Last frost 7th. First frost in autumn, September 15, (light ;) 25th, severe. First fall of snow in autumn, October 26, two inches deep. Three frosts in September; six frosts in October. November 24, severe snow-storm. Fine sleighing two or three days. Winds. The table of winds on the preceding page does not show the number of days that the wind blew from the several points of the compass, but the number of times that the vane was observed to point in the several directions, whether it remained in that direction a few minutes or a whole day. The object has been to show the variation of the wind as well as the prevailing wind. Range of the Thermometer.-The greatest range of the thermometer, as shown by the foregoing table, is that of September, (61°,) and the next greatest those of January and December, (59°.) Warmest month in the year, July; warmest week, September 6 to 13; warmest day, June 27; coldest, December 26; mean, from sunrise to sunset, 20. The mean temperature is not estimated in degrees and minutes, but in degrees and decimals. The thermometer is kept on the north side of a building, beyond the reach of reflected heat, and fully exposed to the air. Difference in the temperature of this place and that of the south side of the building, on the 27th day of December, 11 to 12 o'clock a. m., 34°. A Garden Experiment. The piece of ground that I now occupy as a garden was originally an alder swamp, though situated on a hill of considerable extent and elevation. When cleared, it was partially drained, and used for a number of years as a garden, but was finally abandoned as too wet. In the autumn of 1849, it was ploughed and drained, having lain to meadow a number of years, and was found to consist of a daik clay muck, or loam, so deep that the plough did not reach the bottom, or subsoil, which is a sandy, gravelly loam, with a small mixture of clay. Among the things planted in the spring of 1850, was a bed of marrow fat peas. The vines, or straw, grew very large, but the pods were small, and not well filled. In the spring of 1851, it was ploughed again, and a ditch dug along one side so deep as to throw up enough of the subsoil to cover a strip three or four feet wide to the depth of two or three inches. On this strip I planted peas again; and not only were the vines large, but the pods, also, were numerous, large, and well filled. I ascribe the difference of the result only to the mixture of the subsoil. Potatoes. The potato malady appears to have prevailed more extensively during the past season (1851) than it did the previous year, yet the crop in general is thought to be better than that of 1850. Best varieties: "Waterbury reds," or "sand-lakes," "mercers," and "pink-eyes." Time of planting: If on a moist, rich soil, they should be planted early, and dug and used early, or the crop will be lost. Early planting is considered best on any soil. Progress of the Year.-In my remarks of last year, I stated the probability of being able to give something more definite the present year. I have, however, little to communicate. There is, perhaps, a slow and gradual improvement in the agricultural department of society. I infer this from the condition of our late agricultural fair, compared with those of former years. The interest taken in the matter appeared to be greater than formerly. Many of the agricultural products appeared to be better than those of former years; the character of the stock showed an advance, and farmers seemed more inclined to read on subjects pertaining to their profession. The public mind seems to be waking up a little; and, all things considered, there is hope of a change for the better. Respectfully, yours, J. L. HENDRICK. Hon. THOMAS EWBANK, Commissioner of Patents. LITCHFIELD, January 1, 1852. 40 Meterological Record for the year 1851 at Beaver Brook, Sullivan county, N. Y. BY CHAS. S. WOODWARD. Barometer. Thermometer. Wind. Remarks. Morn. Noon. Night. Morn. Noon. Night. Morn. Noon. Night. Barometer average, 29.02; highest, January 19; lowest, January 29. Thermometer-average, 32 86; bighest, January 16 and 17; lowest, January 31. Northwest... Pleasant. West Pleasant. |