The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1873-08-08


editice. S. w.
For the I1giS Il Htelligcncer.
Meteorological Record for July, 1873.
FALLsToN, Hartford county,
August LIST, 1873. !
Mr.. EplToR Herewith please find state
ment of temperature and rain fall of the July
Just ended:
Maximum temperature observed afternoons
of the 18th and 25th, "a deg's. Minimum tenn
temperature of the month, 1851 deg's. Rain fall
during the entire month, 554 inches.
Maximum temperature of July, 1871, 81 deg's.
of July, 1872, 9G "
Mean Of July, 1872, 1913
Rainfall of July, 1871 456 inches.
of July, 1872 lG6 inches.
Until the 2Gth of last month only 226 inches
of rain had fallen, which with the los inches of
June, made but 1871 inches for Sc days of very
hot weather. All crops, if we except the wheat
the wheat is probably full an average CROP
doubtless the yield would have been much
greater, and the grain better with proper sup
ply of moisture to the roots. The grass growth
was very suddenly checked by the drouth of
June and doubtless the wheat suffered too, but
earlier favorable conditions made it still good
crop, and much in advance of the crop of the
two preceding dry years, 1871 and 1872, through
out the county.
The most grateful (shall say provdcntiaD
showers of the evenings of the 2Gth, 3Tth 2Sth
and Goth gave at this place 322 inches; the rain
of3 p. NJ. Sunday evening being the most album
dant and yielding Ito in about 35 minutes.
On Saturday evening the wind and hail did
some slight damage in and near FallstOn, which
point seemed to become fixed storm centre for
a few minutes, with wind rushing outwardly in
all directions; as the corn, fences and trees
north ofths village were Frustrated to the north
west, while in the woods to the SOUTH the branch
es were torn oil and thrown to the southeast
The wind blew with violence not more than five
minutes, and at this point, from the northwest.
1t seemed Il repetition, on very small scale, of
a storm described in the July No. of the .imeri-
can Joonat IF Science, the peculiaritics ofwhich
were fixed centre, with wind rushing outward
ly in oll directions Despite all the study given
to this subject at present, very much remains to
be explained about the recently rare but on the
whole common phenomena of summer showers.
A farmer suggests that the great fire in Balti-
more precipitatcd the recent showers. 1t is sup
posed that the storm balance may hang in such
delicate equilibrium between ruin and Jan, that
any unusual jar, as the firing of a hundred cannon,
may pour local electrical showers out all over Il
country, and great fires have been supposed to
have similar effect; such instances are doubt
less very rare exceptions.
j see in the scientific columns of the papers
and hear from many whom meet, much doubt
expressed whether The forests have any influence
on summer rains, if space will admit it does
not seem out of place to give some reasons for
my belief on this subject Sunlight passes
through all transparent metlja like glass, much
more the air, yielding but very little of its heat
hence the higher regions of the atmosphere are
very cold, and in space beyond the earth and
greater portion of the atmosphere, the tempera-
turc is estimated to be as low as 100 degrees be-
low zero ice and snow are constant at an clcva-
ton of mile and half even within the tropics;
hence the air is mainly heated by its contact
with the earth, on the surface of which it rests
with the pressure of nearly 151bs to the square
inch. AS the temperature of the air is raised
its capacity for holding water in the form of nvis
ible vapor is increased. The hot current of air
from the register Immediately sucks the water
from the wcttcst sponge, and were cloud Of
steam thrown into this current, 1t would ut once
drink 1t up and render it invisible. Now a for
est shades and shelters the surface, and retardng
the evaporation keeps it constant, and like a
sprinkled floor, the surface is kept cool, which
GOODNESS is greatly assisted by the evaporation
from the leaves of the trees; hence cool, satura-
ted currents are constantly rising from forest
country, and if in rising they meet q cooler cur
rent, their capacity for moisture being reduced,
the water is dropped back to the surface of the
earth; and If they meet Il damp current, bringing
moisture over from the sea, being cool and sat
isfied with moisture, they do not rob this sea
current, but according us the temperature may
be higher or lower, they throw down their com
blncd stores in great rain or else join with the
sea current and float on against the cool noun
tains, to be there condo nscd and precpitatcd to
supply the rivers and flow back to the sea-
Moreover these damp currents arising from the
forest exert an electrical influence 10 attract
and discharge the clouds, as may be seen in a
like effect by damp valleys and streams. On the
contrary, where the surface of the earth is bare
of trees the water that may fall upon it is sud
denly cyaporated or drained Off and the tempera-
ture rises very high; the air that rests upon
such surface becomes heated and thirsty, and
rising in hot, dry currents with an unsatisted
capacity for moisture, it robs the sea currents
and dissipates and drinks up the clouds, and it
requires the very coolest currents, something
right off the Atlantic ccbcrgs to throw down
any moisture from it. All the moisture of the
Mediterranean blows over across the great des-
ert not drop of it ever falling till it impinges
against the cooler mountains beyond the desert;
receiving no water because it is Il DESERT and 1t
is a desert because it receives no water; but
could it once be watered orlarge tracts of it, by
artesan wells or otherwise, and trees planted
and growing, 1t would doubtless rain there rs on
other portions of the earth's surface.
Showers during the heat of summer only &C.
cur late in the afternoon or night, when these
heated thirsty air currents have in measure
ceased on account of the declining sun.
A bare hard surface receives no dew because
like brick it retains its heat all night, and does
not reduce the temperature of the air which
rests upon it till it yields some of its moisture
grassy surface or q well pulverized surface
cools before morning, and cooling the air in
contact, makes it deposit its moisture hence
the advantage of constant and deep cultivation
in time of drouth.
The idea of bordering all the roads with rows
of forest or fruit trees is an excellent one in all
respects but one; it keeps the roads muddy after
rainy seasons for longer time and so helps to
keep them rough, but if the road be properly
constructed and cared for, this consideration
ought not to discourage an enterprise which
would make charming country of any section,
and at the same time increase forest area.
G, q. G..
p. SIN DR.. Kane's account ofhls Arctic voyage
he speaks of certain point which the natives
called by word which signifies in their language
the ''wiDd-loved spot, because the wind always
blew there so; 1t seemed to me pretty and poctcal
Now we in Hartford are particularly favored with
mild winds The contrast with most sections
both east and west in this respect is remarkable;
and this quiet state of the atmosphere adds more
to the charm of our climate than those who
have not experienced the contrast are aware of
This is what tried to say in previous letter,
but my handwriting and your types made con-
fusion.