[The Carices are found in the wet, natural meadows, in great abundance, and are annually cut by the farmers for hay. They are thus highly important aids in the settlement of a new country, by enabling the early inhabitants to support their teams and stock before an artificial meadow can be prepared. Many of these natural meadows are occasioned by the dams of the beaver, still visible in every part of the Territory] Atheropogon apludoides, Muhl., Prairieville. Aspidium Gouldiana, Hook, Osmunda regalis, L., Summit, also in Racine county. The number of plants that have been detected and examined in the County of Milwaukee, without including mosses, In adjoining counties, &c., besides the above, 694 ..97 .82 Total number of species already detected,..... .....873 But as much of the county has not been visited by any botanist, we may fairly presume that this is far from being the actual number, and that Wisconsin is as rich in plants as other States in the same latitude. From the observations made at the military posts within the Territory, we are able to form a pretty correct estimate of the climate of Wisconsin; and by comparison with the observations reported to the Regents of the University of the State of New York, we find a remarkable similarity - between the climate of Wisconsin and that of the interior and western counties of that State. But as two of these military stations are much north of the most populous portions of Wisconsin, it is evident that the southern portions must have a climate rather warmer than New York; and this accords with the first impressions of most persons of intelligence and observation, who have had the opportunity of direct comparison. One person remarks that he passed the 23d, 24th, and 25th of June in the heart of the far famed Genesee country, and then not one of the farmers in a dozen had hoed his corn for the first time. On the third of July, he landed at Milwaukee, and along the road west from that place, corn was about "tasselling out," and was at least five weeks in advance of the same crop in western New York. Persons, therefore, who are familiar with the climate of New York, may form a pretty correct judgment of that of Wisconsin. Our winters, usually long and severe, are occasionally mild and almost entirely without snow. The ground is frozen to a great depth, and the rivers and lakes are bridged over with solid ice. But usually snow falls in December and continues until March. The "January thaw" often carries off the snow, and occasionally dissolves the ice in the rivers. The winter of 1842-3 was distinguished by the unusual quantity of snow, and the great length of time it remained on the ground. Sleighing commenced about the tenth of November, and continued until about the same time in April, being five months. The following table, showing the day when the Milwaukee river was closed with ice each fall, and when the ice left in the spring, will serve to show the duration of our winters, and how they vary in different years: The Great Lakes have a very sensible effect upon our climate, by equalizing the temperature-making the summers less hot and the winters less cold than they would otherwise be. Hence the difference between the mean temperature of winter and summer at Fort Snelling, on the Mississippi river, is about six and a half degrees more than at Fort Howard, at the southern extremity of Green Bay; and at this place the influence of the lakes is but partially felt. At Prairie du Chien (Fort Crawford) this difference is ten degrees more than at Milwaukee, on Lake Michigan, in the same latitude. About the same difference is observed when we compare the mean temperature of winter and spring at these places; the change from winter to spring being more sudden in the interior than on the lakes. This fact is also inferred from the vegetation of spring, for it has been ascertained by direct observation, that in the town of Lisbon, only fifteen miles from the lake at Milwaukee, the early spring flowers show themselves about ten days earlier than on the lake. In the spring, vegetation, in places remote from the lakes, shoots up in a very short time, and flowers begin to show their petals, while on the lake shore the cool air retards them and brings them more gradually into existence. Another effect of the lakes is, as perhaps might be expected, to create a greater degree of humidity in the atmosphere, and hence a greater quantity of rain. This is also proved by comparing the observations at the two posts above referred to; there being annually about eight and a half inches more at Green Bay than on the Mississippi.* It is however remarkable, that these lakes do not afford more fogs than are found to exist about them. At Milwaukee, on the shore of Lake Michigan, not more than three or four foggy days occur in a whole year. Fogs are often seen lying on the surface of the lake itself, and steamboats and other vessels navigating Lake Michigan often experience inconvenience from them, but they appear to be dissipated upon approaching land. More than two hundred days in each year are fair, taking one year with another; and if we add such as are not quite "fair," but only partially cloudy, it will be seen that we have an atmosphere of great purity and clearness. This is also proved by direct observation, for it is remarked by strangers that, owing to the clearness of the air, objects can be seen at a greater distance than usual, or appear to be near at hand, when in fact they are at a considerable dis tance. That the citizens of Wisconsin have occasional opportunities of witnessing some of the more interesting and remarkable phenomena of nature, is shown by the following extract from the Southport Telegraph. "WATER SPOUT.-The interesting phenomenon of the Water Spout was witnessed by quite a number of the citizens of this village, on the morning of Sunday, August * The small amount of rain at Milwaukee, as shown in the following table, would seem not to confirm this statement; but the observations at that place were but for a limited period, and during unusually dry seasons. 20, 1843. The attention of the beholders was first directed to a dense dark cloud hanging over Lake Michigan, distant, apparently, some ten or twelve miles in a southerly direction from this place. From this cloud was seen converging downwards a thick mass of vapor, trumpetshaped, or in the form of a pyramid reversed; at the same time the surface of the water below appeared greatly agitated, bubbling, foaming, and rising up in hundreds of little sharp pyramids of various heights, until at length an aqueous cone rising upward, united with the descending one-forming a volume apparently some two hundred feet high, and exhibiting the form of two funnels united at the little ends; the point of uniting between the ascending and descending cone being much the smallest part of the column. In the middle of the column was seen what may be termed a transparent tube through which the water appeared to rush with a spiral motion, and with a velocity truly wonderful. Such was the apparent force and power of the current of water rushing through the tube or column, that a misty vapor was thrown off at a considerable distance around, not unlike such as is seen in the presence of huge cataracts. The different shades and colorings reflected by the combination of water and clouds, formed a most magnificent and sublime scene in this wonderful exhibition of nature. It should be mentioned, that as soon as the Water Spout above described had formed, a second one made its appearance in the immediate vicinity of the first, exhibiting the same process of formation, and in all respects similar to the first. A third also commenced its formation from the dense cloud above, but failed to unite or meet with any column of water from below. The time from the first appearance of the Water Spouts we have described, to the period of their disappearance, was about twenty-five minutes. The wind blew at the same time moderately from the N. E., and the temperature of the weather was not far from forty-five degrees. The appear |