At Nashville, Tenn. 1834, the mean temperature was 59 degrees and seventy-six-hundredths; maximum 97, minimum 4 above zero. The summer temperature of this place never reaches 100°. On January 26th, 1832, 18 degrees below zero. February 8th, 1835, 10° below zero.
The putting forth of vegetation in the spring furnishes some evidence of the character of the climate of any country, though by no means entirely accurate. Other causes combine to advance or retard vegetation. A wet or dry season, or a few days of heat or cold at a particular crisis, will produce material changes.
The following table is constructed from memoranda made at the various dates given, near the latitude of St. Louis, which is computed at 38° 30'. The observations of 1819 were made at St. Charles and vicinity, in the state of Missouri. Those of 1820, in St. Louis county, 17 miles N. W. from the city of St. Louis. The remainder at Rock Spring, Illinois, 18 miles east from St. Louis. It will be perceived, the years are not consecutive. In 1826, the writer was absent to the eastern states, and for 1828, his notes were too imperfect to answer the purpose.
In the columns showing the times of the first snows, and the first and last frosts in the season, a little explanation may be necessary. A "light" snow means merely enough to whiten the earth, and which usually disappears in a few hours.
Many of the frosts recorded "light" were not severe enough to kill ordinary vegetation.
|Peach & |Strawberries|Blackberries|Apple |Apple | |Red bud |in |in |leaves |trees in | Year.|in blossom|blossom. |blossom. |begin to |blossom. | | | | |put forth| | | | | | | | =====+==========+============+============+=========+=========+ | | | | | | 1819 |April 4. |Not noted. |May 19. |April 15.|April 20.| | | | | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ |April 14. | |May 10. | | | 1820 |No peach |April 2. |fall off |Mar. 25 |April 15.| |B. | |17. | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ |April 26. | | | | | 1821 |No peach |April 30. |May 21. |April 24.|May 3. | |B. | | | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ | | | | | | 1822 |April 5. |April 25. |May 10. |April 18.|April 22.| | | | | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ | | | | | | 1823 |April 19. |April 26. |May 20. |April 15.|April 28.| | | | | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ | | | | | | 1824 |April 20. |April 28. |May 18. |April 20.|April 29.| | | | | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ | |April 3. | | | | 1825 |Mar. 25. |Ripe |May 8. |Mar. 30. |April 5. | | |May 17. | | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ | | | | | | 1827 |April 4. |April 10. |May 15. |April 4. |April 13.| | | | | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ | | | | | | 1829 |April 20. |April 24. |May 20. |April 20.|April 26.| | | | | | | -----+----------+------------+------------+---------+---------+ | | | | | | 1830 |April 1. |April 5. |May 9. |April 1. |April 9. | | | | | | |