The Philosophy of the Weather. And a Guide to Its Changes - T. B. Butler

The effect of this difference of magnetic intensity upon the climate of Europe is marked. There, the excessive summer heat, which our greater magnetic intensity and larger volume of counter trade give us, is unknown. Hence, while we can grow Indian corn (which requires the excessive summer heat) over all the Eastern States, up to 45°, and in some localities east of the lakes to 47° 30′, and to 50° west of them, to the base of the Rocky Mountains, and notwithstanding the increase of elevation, they can not grow it except over a limited area, and with limited success. Nor can they, or the inhabitants of any other country except China, grow profitably the kind of cotton which is so successfully grown in the Southern States of the Union. Nor can China do so to a considerable extent, because of the mountainous character of the surface. To a level and remarkably watered country, greater magnetic and electric intensity, and a greater volume of counter-trade, we are, and ever shall remain, indebted, for an almost exclusive monopoly in the growth of two of the most important staple productions of the earth. On the other hand, although the same magnetic intensity, and its winter excess of positive electricity and cold, make our winters extreme, there are but few of the productions of temperate latitudes which we can not grow successfully, and they are comparatively unimportant.

		Fort Vancouver, Oregon Territory	Fort Brady, outlet of Lake Sup.	Hancock Barracks, Houlton, Me.	Fort Armstrong, Rock Island, Ill.	West Point, New York	Washington, D. C.	Jefferson Barracks, near St. Louis	Fort King, interior of East Florid.	Environs of London	Rome, Italy
Lat.		45° 37′	46° 39′	46° 10′	41° 28′	41° 22′	38° 53′	38° 28′	29° 12′	51° 31′	41° 54′
Annual Range.		78	110	118	106	91	84	89	78	67	62
Jan.	Min.	17	-21	-24	-10	-1	14	10	33	16	29
	Max.	58	40	41	48	53	57	60	83	49	58
Feb.	Min.	32	-22	-11	-6	2	16	11	43	19	33
	Max.	55	44	42	56	56	62	70	84	54	60
Mar.	Min.	32	-7	-1	13	16	28	31	39	24	37
	Max.	60	51	54	70	72	70	76	87	60	65
Apr.	Min.	32	18	24	33	40	36	38	54	26	44
	Max.	70	62	74	78	62	73	83	93	69	74
May.	Min.	32	32	81	44	47	50	45	64	33	52
	Max.	75	79	83	84	72	85	88	97	78	80
June.	Min.	45	41	38	57	57	59	59	73	39	60
	Max.	95	86	90	89	79	92	95	105	80	88
July.	Min.	40	39	45	62	64	64	50	73	41	64
	Max.	95	84	90	95	86	94	96	102	83	91
Aug.	Min.	44	49	46	60	62	63	66	74	42	62
	Max.	95	84	85	91	87	93	96	104	79	91
Sept.	Min.	43	40	33	51	56	51	51	70	34	55
	Max.	88	75	78	87	83	88	88	99	75	85
Oct.	Min.	50	27	24	82	42	33	38	41	30	46
	Max.	66	70	72	73	69	77	80	91	68	77
Nov.	Min.	32	15	4	26	36	28	27	30	22	39
	Max.	58	58	60	64	63	66	69	82	56	67
Dec.	Min.	32	-7	-4	15	20	17	14	36	20	31
	Max.	55	42	53	62	56	61	64	79	53	60

This excess of magnetic intensity and electricity not only gives a peculiar character to our vegetation, but also to our race, our animals, and every thing. He who supposes that the restless activity and energy of the people of the United States is the result of habit, or education, or any fortuitous circumstances alone, is mistaken. Let him watch the contrast in his own feelings during those occasional languid, damp, and sultry, although not thermometrically, hot days—which so much resemble the summer weather of England—with those days of bright, bracing, N. W. and S. W. air, so much more frequent here, and he will appreciate the difference. That term “bracing,” so much in use, will express the effect of this peculiar weather. It “girds up the loins,” both of body and mind. Men and animals can work with more ease, even in our peculiar extremes of heat, than they can in England, and fatten with less.

A similar difference in degree is found between our climate and that of the Pacific portion of our country. Something is due to the difference in the volume and moisture of the counter-trades, and something to the contiguity of the Pacific Ocean; but to the difference in magneto-electric intensity, the contrast is mainly due. Corn and cotton will be grown, to some extent, in the valleys west of the meridian of 105°, but never as successfully as east of it.

The aurora is periodical, like all the other atmospheric phenomena, but its periodicity is not accurately ascertained. It is believed to have occurred much oftener during the second quarter of this century, than during the first. It is known, however, to occur most frequently in the spring and fall; and during those periods when the active and rapid transit of the atmospheric machinery produces the greatest degree of magnetic disturbance. This identifies it with terrestrial magnetism. Dalton gives us the following table of observations, arranged according to the months when they were seen.

	Jan.	Feb.	Mar.	Apr.	May.	June.	July.	Aug.	Sept.	Oct.	Nov.	Dec.
(1)	18	18	26	32	21	5	2	21	23	36	38	9
(2)	21	18	23	13	3	2	1	3	35	22	22	21
(3)	21	27	22	12	1	5	7	9	34	50	26	15
(4)	5	6	4	8	10	7	6	14	14	17	5	6