Raftsman's journal. [volume] (Clearfield, Pa.) 1854-1948, 1862-01-29
PEvNvlLLE. JANUARY % 1862.

FRIEND Row IF you deem the following
''Retrospect of the year 1861, - worthy, please
give 1t place in the Journal.
JANUARY, most favorable for out door work
moderately cold the mercury twice below
zero, viz 18th Is deg. below, and Both deg.
below highest on the 10th and 18th, viz IL
and Al. Light SHOWS on ten days; heavy
snow on the 18th and 9th. Rain the eth and
18th. Favorable for hauling all the month.
FEBRUARY, came with rain, hail and sleet,
with the appearance of thsw; Sd to 9th gets
cold 9TH Sth very cold, II and Is degrees be-
low zero. 9Th to 18th quite warm, mercury
40 and upward. Rain on the 1lth. and great
flood in the river, and heavy Ice gorge the
18th. 10Th to 24th moderately cold roads
still pretty good, notwithstanding the rain and
flood some snow drifts on the 22nd. From
the 25th to 2Sth general thaw the hauling
done, and the roads getting very bad. A
heavy snow on the 18th light SHOWS on the
9TH, 10th and Goth, with rain on three days
during the month. The roads hard and most
ly good hauling from the first of January to
the 9th of February.
MARCH, steps upon time with very high
food in the river. The mercury at ON the
1st and Y on the End. From the 4th to the
18th moderate and pleasant; 18th and 18th
cold, with the mercury at Z. From the Goth
to the end OF the month, warm and mostly lyIfne
weather. Heavy snow on the 2lSt, light snow
on the 9th and 10th, with more or less rain on
six days during the month.
APRIL, came in with the mercury at %, and
q great storm of snow and hail six inches
deep; also on the 10Th and 18th snow inches
deep and more or less rain on six days during
the month. The ground in order for plowing
about the 22nd. The mercury at 80 on the
Odd. The month in general uniavorabe for
farming except the last few days.
MAY. Winter still fingers in the lap of may /;
light snow on the 1st and Sd, with the mercury
at % on the 2nd. Frost on the mornings of
the 9th 18th and 30th. More less rain
on thirteen days during the month. Plum
trees in bloom and thick sapped timber half
leaf about the 22nd. Apple-trees in bloom on
the 2ith, and Chestnut andOak coming in leaf.
May furnished some fine weather for labor, al
though much Of the month was too wet for
working out.
JUNE, came in moist and moderately warm,
with showers on ten days during the month,
and destructive storm of rain, hail and wind
on the 18th. The mercury rose to so deg. and
upwards in the shade on twelve days; fRe for
giving the corn start
July, commenced fine and warm with show
ers on eleven days, mostly light with the
mercury rising to so deg. and upward on four
teen days. Spring crops growing rapidly and
making fine promise for good yield.
AUGUsT, blows his warm breath upon US,
with the mercury to 90 degrees and upwards
more. Showers on ten days. From the 18th
to Jhe 10th both inclusive the weather was
quite cool; the mercury being ~ on the
morning OF the 18th. From observations in
years past, / find hat July and August are the
months to make or mar the corn crops. If
the mercury does not rise to eighty or ninety
degrees, or upwards, for three or four weeks
during these months. the corn crop is generally
a failure. a lower temperature, with sufficient
moisture, may produce stalks and cobs; but
will not make sound and hard grains-except
of the smaller and most early kinds. If the
ranges at noon, one half OF the days
during the months of July and August, from
80 to 81 degrees, we may almost invariably
depend on having ripe and sound corn. The
crop is FASTENED to maturity and the ground
becomes SO heated, that early frost seldom
does much damage. Sometimes, owing to
lack of moisture, the crops may be light and
the ears short, but the grains will mostly be
found ripe and hard. The same rules and
circumstances win apply to melons, peaches
and sweet potatoes.
SEPTEMBER, is next in order, with its warm
sun -st,ine and refreshing showers. On eleven
lays there was more or less rain, with great
food in the river on the 26th and 27th; done