Lewiston teller. [volume] (Lewiston, North Idaho) 1878-1900, 1890-11-06
PHENOLOCY,
The Foundation Laid for q New ana Intcresttns
sci,


Science.
Phenology is an infant science which
is concerned with studying the sHc-
cessive phases of vegetation and ami
NAL life and the ripening of fruits and
grains in relation to the annual dates
OF their recurrence. with n view OF
utilizing the results in promoting agri-
culture. and in predicting the sanitary
and meteorological character OF the
seasons. While as yet but little pro-
gress has been made in this study, it
promises TO become 4 useful research.
prominent German phenologist, DR..
Hoffman. after careful collation. OF his
data. finds that in twenty-one out Of
twenty-nire years the early and late
opening OF the buds OF the chestnut has
correspondent with following winter,
warm Or cold. This deduction may
not hold true in all countries. But
there can be no question shat vegeta-
ton everywhere affords valuable
presage Of those otherwise inscrutablc
exceptional seasons which are fraught
with serious consequences OF great
good or great ill to the people Of Il
whole hemisphere. This was strilingly
illustrated last winter-a season pref
aced by the continuous bloom. both in
England and New England, till late in
january OF out-of-door flowers which
before an ordinary winter usually dis
appear by tho December solstice. Dur
ing the notably mild British winter Of
lSSl-e2 1873 wild flowers withstood the
cold, and at Killarney the peach trees
were in full bloom by January Fl,
while the bees stored up more honey
than they did in the ensuing ungenial
summer. The tardy spring Of 1888 in
| Western Europe was indicated by the
swallows lateness in making his ap-
pearance twenty-five days later than
in the early spring OF 1882. Had Ma
poleon carried into his Russian cam
paign skillful phenologist to give him
timely warning OF the early and rigor-
Gus winter which destroyed his. army
he might possibly have escaped un-
harmed.
The value of observations alluded tc
is we'll stated by the French journal
Ciel ct Terre. which recently defined
phenology as 4 species OF thermometry
which may even occasionally correc,
erroneous conclusions from thermomet
rio records, and, in fact, may attain
the same precision as meteorolOgy
1t says: "A plant is, in fact. a sort o
registering thermometer, which, like
the thermometer, shows the presen
temperature, but, in addition. the fina
effect of past temperature. Accurate
observations OF the phases Of vegcta
tion, and the determination of thei
mean value, furnish important indica
tions as to the further progress Of tn
plant. These chronological observu
tions enable us to examine prediction
which have come down to us fro,
remote ages, such as the speed
arrival OF winter after the fall OF tn
bloom of the health and the larch 10.
ing its leaves"
In the United States thorough an
uniform system OF such Observable
would be OF great interest to all class
es, especially to agriculturists, as
record of the life history OF forest an
fruit trees and OF many food plant
the effect of climate extremes on til
grain harvests aud rs basis for bot
agricultural and seasonal forecast
This year we have IL failure of frui
in the Atlantic States and other par
of the country. which, for the want
chronological observations. was entir
~ unforeseen. Had close observation
been made and kept. even for a fe
:. preceding years, on the antecede
: conditions which determine the failul
Y or success of the peach and apple Gro
. there can be little doubt that the pre-
: emit disappointment OF horticulturis
q would have been anticipated and mu'
= needless expense avoided.
4 No doubt countless and compete
:: volunteers in all parts of the count
q would cooperate in an extensive al
!, exact system Of chronological researc
y similar to that which for many yea
has been carried out on II large sea
u in England and also in Germany
], Y. Herald.
- stsreoscopio Views BY Million,.