New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1880-11-28
THE LOST NDLIN SUMMER.

It now looks as if Indian Summer would be
altogether omitted in tie procession Of the
seasons this year. 1t is usually preceded in
early November by few bleak, cloud dark
ened days and premonitoTy suOwsqual or
two; and when the sudden chill fell upon lis a
week ago the weather wise predicted lat the
belated season was coming at last. But the
cold came in earnest, and a second Arctic wave
which now threatens lis would seem to Indicate
that it has come to stay. If 1t is genuine
Article of winter which has arrived almost a
month ahead of schedule time, we are practi-
caly removed several degrees toward the North
Pole. Two years ago grass was growing in
December, and harder wild flowers like the
dandeliOn were blooming until Christmas. In
view of such wide diycrsIties Of temperature
the epithet ficlller is not vivid enough TO do
justice to on climate.
1t would staggcr ordinary arithmetic to csti-
mate the cost to the country of a hard winter
The extra tons of coal and yards of flannel re-
quired to fortify us against the more energetic
and prolonged attacks of frost, and the addi-
tiOnal tons Of gam and hay required to furnish
needed warmth to the millions of domestic
animals, would together make a considerable
item in the expenses of the year. Already the
premature closing of navigation OH canals and
rivers has had its influence on prices and the
increased cost Cf winter transportation becomes
a more serious burden when the season is I'M
usually prolonged. But aside from these and
other obvious considerations, there are special
reasons for looking upon the early advent of
continuous cold with apprehension. The earth
Is not prepared for it, In ordinary seasons
plenteous autumn rains fill up the streams,
saturate the ground, and furnish the deep
sources of the springs with full supply before
the surface of tie ground Is frozen. But now
the beds of the streams are as dry as they are
at the end of a midsummer drouth, the wells
are at their lowest, and the hidden reservoirs
which feed the springs are empty. If the frost
now encascs the ground with au impcIviOus
armor, this means a scant water supply during
the entire wnter-an altogether abnormal con-
dition of things which must be in many ways
pernicious.
Some years ago large numbers of evergreen
trees died during winter of not exceptional
severity. But the ground was unusually dry
when freezing weather set IN, and the death of
the trees was attributed to this cause by per-
sons whose opinions OH such matters are of
value. certain amount OF evaporation goes
on even in the winter season from the foliage
of evergreen trees, which necesstates some
circulation, and when the ground is dry about
their deep roots, below the frost line, they
cannot honor the drafts made upon them by
the leaves. This is only one of the minor evils
threatened. There are more serious ones but
after all borrowed trouble is not profitable
investment. Two years ago prophets of evil
were quoting the adage about a green Christ
mas and rat graveyaIds, but nobody discovered
that the warm winter helped to breed any pesti-
lence. If we take the dry and wet, the cold
and warm, as they come, without grumbling or
we will be likely to live as long
and be quite us happy.