Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-08-18
THE METBoRo1oaY OF VERMONT.

The system of meteorological observations
which we have proposed for this State, has been
devised with view to uniformity in these OBJ
servations, not only among themselves, but
with respect to other observations made by the
scientific world at large $50 that they may be
possessed of a universal as well as of local
value and application.
1t is proposed that they should be conducted
by permanent literary and scientific institutions
in order that they may be continuous and with
out any of those breaks and interruptions which
always occur when they are made by individ-
uals. 1t is thought that they might be made
by the pupils themselves, or at least under their
notice, and that they would thus be valuable as
practical scientific education, accustomng youths
to an accurate method Of observing the opera
tons of the natural world. There are probably
no better intellectual capacities for close scruti-
nizing observation OF nature than among our
students in Vermont; and in fact we might re-
gard them as peculiarly well fitted for investi
eating those subtitle, intangible elements upon
which the meteorological conditions of the at
mosphere depends.
With respect to the instruments which the
system would render necessary, we have con-
suited the Smithsonian Institution, and they
recommend to us those which are manufactured
by GREEN of New York. An entire set for a
county would cost about sixty dollars, making
the whole original outlay for the whole fourteen
counties which make up the State, some eight
hundred dollars. This sum would prob ably b
the whole expense which the State would have
to incur in establishing the system and carving
it into operation; since it is believed that when
the system is once fairly under way, the schools
or communities themselves where the observa-
tons are to be made, would become sufficiently
interested in them to keep them up. The ac-
ton OF the State is needed IN order to general
Use the system, to set it going and give it uni
fornity and porpotuity.
The object of the observations is to record
not only the usual phases of the weather with
respect to heat, cold, rain snow, dew, winds,
storms, ETC.. in order to discover the relations
in which these qualities of the weather stand to
agriculture and prevailing diseases, but also to
keep note of those more extraordinary phe-
nomena, such as meteors, boreal corruscations,
spots on the sun, earthquakes, tornados, cleo
trical excitements, etc., etc., a knowledge of
which is necessary in order to a more perfect
understanding Of the cosmical relations of our
globe with respect to the universe.
The necessity of more definite knowledge of
the weather than we now possess, is very evil
dent when we consider how vague our impress
sions upon the subject are. We are often of
the opinion that a season has been very cold
when the instruments would show on the con-
trary that 1t has been very warm. Almost eve
rybody thinks that the seasons have changed
and that they are very different from what they
used to be; that fruit trees are in consequence
destroyed; that crops are not so good as for
mery, etc. but if we had good series of OBJ
servations throughout the State extending hack
RAINY years, We could soon discover whether to
attribute fanlts to a change of the climate or to
some other cause. We cannot make much i'm
provemcnt in agriculture so long as we are I'M
certain with respect to the causes which affect it.
With view to clear understanding on the
part Of the reader of the system of IN eteorolog-
ical observations which is proposed for the
State, and the action deemed necessary from
the State in the case, We give it below in the
form Of an enactment, as follows:-
An Act for establishing system of meteoro-
logical observations for the State of Vermont.
BE it enacted DC. That the Treasurer be.
and hereby is authorized, to pay over to certain
schools, seuiinorivs Or colleges, NOT exceeding
one to each county in the State, the sum of
sixty dollars to each, for the purchase of suita-
BILE instruments for meteorological observations,
to be made in The form prescribed by the Smith
sonian Institution; provided, that said schools,
seminaries or colleges shall engage, through
their trustees or faculties to keep a regular
system Of meteorological observations. one copy
of which to be forwarded annually to the State
Librarian for preservation in the State Library,
and another to be carefully kept at the place
where made as a record for consultation.
The form of the act may doubtless be amen
ded and improved; but the subject, in being
presented in this way, will be the more readily
susceptible of a practical consideration.
J. W.. p.
DOUGLAS IN NEW ENGLAND