The Leavenworth weekly times. [volume] (Leavenworth, Kan.) 1870-1880, 1873-02-06

MeeeoeOBOGSeal CoO4fesoos o.
Meath 81 Jao0osy, and Theis kueess
- Vegetation.
By ". HAWH.

BY r. HAwH.
Nearly all the contingencies pertaining t
the discomforts of winter, seem 10 have cul
minated in this month.
The temperature was low and consecutive
with q mean of nineteen degrees below zero
which u seven degrees above the mean o
forty-two years. Nine days in the mon'h
the thermometer went down to zero, and be
Low, and the mean Of those days Was neal
eight degrees below zero.
The minimum temperature occurred OF
the 10Th day Of January, when the mercury
reached twenty-nine degrees below Zero
within one degree the lowest on record al
Fort Leavenworth extending back sorty -oDe
years.
Artic winds were frequent, and Of unusual
force, and heavily laden with humidity.
The number of cloudy days were unusually
large: snow, in two storms fell to the depth
If nineteen iucbes; but the rainfall, was le.s
ihan one inch.
With the discomfor.s, came slso some
compromising conditions During nearly the
whole of the month the ersinfelds we're COW
cred with thick bed of snow, that efiectuslly
protected them from the inclemency of the
weather, and their conditions nov are most
hatierine. This will apply 10 the whole
State.
When We come to q consideration OF the
condition of the fruit-well, what can We
say, with temperature Of from
IN Z
below zero Oh our records. Former
developments preclude the hope that a peach
or an apricot bud has survived. ard prob
.bly many trees are killed outright, Or 20
damaged rs TO impair their fertility. Some
Of the trees on rich soil are bursted and cleft
TO the center.
Fears are entertained in relation to the
condition Of the VINEYARDS, and the delicate
varieties of the apple and pear; bat mas
much as these wen, into winter quarters with
we'll ripened wood, they may not be fatally
damaged.
Much will however depend on the condi-
ton of the atmosphere when they are ihawtd
cut. Should it then he cloudy ard moist it
would mitigate the damage very mnch.
The extent OF the destruction will how
ever differ in different localities, and the
,,eculisrities developed in the local I, mpera-
lures of those frigid days has given an OPP
questions in this respect among horticu!tur-
:lii-ls, which | will consider.
On the morning OF the oath Of December
The Thermometer at the United States oh
servatory marked thirteen degrees be,ow
gro, the wind n. NE, with velocity Of
.our miles per hour observatory fifty one
feet above the Missouri river, and we'll pro-
tected from the wind The temperature in
different localitie. differed materially from
that of the observatory.
/ visited several places where observa-
lions had been made, and that there might
lie no miscalculation, tested their instru-
rnents at a temperature of tbirty-two de-
grees.
would also state in advance that the
thermometers at the several stations are
mounted on brsss scales, encased in iron
frames-subsances that are great conductors
of heat. Their readings consequently are
variable and erroneous in the higher tenn
peratures, but proportionally less in the
lower, and the reported results are approx
imately correct.
At station No l, situated rear a range oil
bluffs, two miles west of the Missouri river,
stream. and fifty feet above the observatory !;
and fairly exposed to the north wind.
Here the thermometer indicated temper
.ture of eighteen degrees below Zero, and
five degrees lower than at the
observatory. This observation was taken by
myself With an insular standard tube.
Station No. 2, situated in a cove, formed
bv hilla. two hundred feet IN height, except
On the southeast; elevated about and hun
,ired and twenty Zee. above the river, seven
ty-6ye feet above the observatory, and two
and . half miles northwest. Here the mer-
curry fell 10 seventeen degrees below zero, or
four degrees lower than at the observatory
Station No. 3 is about one hundred and
seventy feet above the river, one hundred
End twenty feet above the observatory, and
three and half miles west, situated In mar,
row valley, protected by bluffs one hundred
and fifty feef in height on three sides, and
opening towards the northwest. Here the
temperature WAS fourteen below zero. or one
degree lover than ut the observatory.
Station No. 4, situated on an extended
slope, streaching from north to south, pro-
tected on the north by bluffs; about two hun,
dred feet above the Missouri river, one hun
dred and fifty feet above the observatory arc
four miles southwest. Here the thermome
fer marked twelve degrees below zero, Of
one degree higher chan ut the observatory.
Why this variation of temperature at tn
same hour, in different localities. IN the SAM
vicinity?
We have eeen that on the 24'h OF Deem
her the mercury marked the highest (I2 de
degrees below zero) at station No. 4, wh'e'
was least exposed to The PreSaihhs VIM
and that at Station No. l., which vas 'ioe
exposed, the thermometer indicated me low
est temperature lelsh.een aes,eeS o =,
zero). These two ets''ons are 'he ieas, :,
fec.sd BY local innnenc's' winch We sHA'
examine further along.
In further evidence, that theSe a'c,I
winds cause the lowest Temperatures y" III
higher and more exposed Levers, SouI'
cite you to the Pha es oil the -'uL Gay =
January; ths' eA"a',un'a Wy ii 81,
become an era IN our local history, Win III
appellation Of "coid Wednesday.
Ga the morning OF that day. mere was
dead calm; the atmosphere was IN lis MOI
NAL condition; consequently ,he coiaIf s,la'
OF air found the lowest levers, ana ,he ioe.
variations we're reversed from ~ha' ,ney WEI
on the 24.h OF December, as Inc 'oi'o"'i
will show:
The temperature at the ooseIVaory'
the morning in question MAS ~ degrees o
Low zero. Al Station No. 70 degrees .
Low eero, and DEGREES hishet 'nsn ~ y
Observatory. At Station NO. D. ceg'e
below zero, or degrees h'gher than az ~ = J,
Observatory; and at station NO: - y
d