Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1872-10-31
(Origlnal.]
SNOW.

There is nothing so white as snow, and there
is nothing more grandly beautiful than snow
storm. 1t changes up the whole appearance
of nature. Some time during the approach
ing winter, it is probable we may have one Of
those lovely sights, when the surface Of the
earth will be covered with sheet Of fine,
spotless snow. Some curious lad may ask the
questions, "What is snow2" Where does it
come FROM" We once heard of native Of a
tropical region who removed to cold latitude.
When he first witnessed snow storm he con-
cluded that the snow was fine white feathers,
and that some one was picking geese up in the
sky. This may sound strange, but we have
no doubt that an individual who had never
seen snow falling, and who had never read
of such thing, would be at a great loss to
account for such an occurrence on first wit
Messing it. 1t is hard to tell what conclusions
such one would come to. He would be
greatly frightened, and might conclude that
the world was drawing to close. But we
cannot be profted by such speculations.
What, it may be asked, is snow? We, in this
country, have all seen it; and although it is
very cold, we are not frightened by its ap-
pearance.
From the clouds we are accustomed to the
falling Of three things, viz: Rain, snow and
sleet. The former is pure water, and the two
latter, when melted, are nothing but pure
water. Hence, we conclude that rain, snow
and sleet, are the same thing, under different
forms. By the heat of the sun, the water on
the surface of the earth and ocean are rari6ed,
and small portions are constantly carried up
and held in the atmosphere This water is,
in the atmosphere, in the form Of a thin, in
visible vapor. So soon as warm strata, or
current of air, comes in contact with a cold
strata, the vapors of the warm strata are con-
densed and formed into drops which fall to
the ground, and we call it rain. If glass is
filled with cold water in warm day, and per-
mitted to stand for a few moments, the out
side of the glass will be covered with water.
The reason of this is the moisture which is in
the atmosphere is condensed by the cold glass.
If we blow our breath on pane of glass in
the window, the glass will soon be covered
with water. This takes place on the same
principle In the same way rain is formed
in the upper regions Of the atmosphere.
When the watery vapors which float in the
air are frozen, it is what we call snow. When
raindrops in falling, pass through freezing
strata of air, they are frozen, and we call it
hail or sleet. Sometimes it takes place when
cold current of air is suddenly let into a
warm, close room in which several persons
have been for some time; the vapors which
are floating in the room are frozen and there
is snow storm on small scale.
The difference between rain, snow and hail
or sleet is simply this. Rain is the vapors OF
the atmosphere condensed and collected into
drops snow is the same watery vapors frozen
before the rain drops are formed and hail is
the rain drops frozen whilst falling from the
clouds.
It is said that snow possesses some peculiar
fertilizing properties which is highly beneficial
to wheat and other small grains. do not
see how there can be any thing in snow that
is not in rain. do not think there is. The
only good that snow does small grain is sim
ply this 1t forms protection to it liter.
ally covering it up and keeping it warm dur.
ing the excessive cold of the winter. This is
all the good that the snow does wheat above
what is done for it by rain.