Rensselaer Union, Volume 10, Number 27, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1878 — The Season. [ARTICLE]

The Season.

The West has always been remarkable for the peculiarities of its climate. Its general characteristic, however, is that it has warm, dry summers, with much lovely weather in the autumn; and very often wet, late springs, and storms during the winter, severe in their intensity of cold. The present winter has, so far, been unprecedented in the history of the West, for the last forty years, in the amount of rain and the absence of frost, succeeded during the latter part of February, and up to this writing, March 6, by the softest and most genial spring weather. Journals are beginning to call attention to thedact, that in 1843 the thermometer ranged below zero all through the month of March, and utter warnings to beware. That winter was a very cold one, with the frost deep in the ground, and a heavy burden of snow over the country. This year there is no frost, no snow; the water of the streams and lakes is warm, and the temperature of the earth is that of late autumn, rather than that of spring. We may have unpleasant storms yet, but we can have no prolonged severe weather. Frogshave piped, off and on, all winter, and the robins, larks, bobolinks and other spring birds appeared on the last day of February about Chicago. The winter wheat, and the grass, have grown all winter, and no heaving has been experienced. The probabilities, therefore, are, that we shall have another season of heavy crops of wheat, and deep meadows and pastures. With favorable weather, the spring wheat crops may be got in early, and, when so sown, the result is, as a rule, full crops. It is to be hoped every farmer will avail himself of this state of the weather, if it lasts, to sow without delay. The amount of rain which the West has received during the last summer, autumn and winter, would leave the inference natural that we may expect a change, and that the present Se&aQlL may be suitably dry. Early spring sowings give tolerable assurance of heavy small grain crops. A warm June, July and August will make the corn crop—the great staple of the West —immense. Another great crop would put the West all right. Let every farmer use his best endeavors to do his part, and trust in Providence for full garners. — Prairie Farmer. Facts are facts, even when pronounced by ravage lips. It was a peculiar notion of the Mohawks tnatr some great misfortune would happen if any one spoke while crossing Saratoga Lake. A white woman, who was ferried over by an Indian, talked all the way, and on arriving safely on the further shore rallied her boatman on his superstition. He simply grunted, •‘The Great Spirit is nierenur and knows that the pale face woman cannot hold her tongue,” and then recrossed the lake in silence. A score of full-born Americans will move three wagon loads of lumber to uncover a poor old rat, where a cash offer of fifty cents each would have no effect.— Detroit Free Press. During the year 1877 42,260 paupers In Indiana were cared fdr~tft"the expense of the various counties in the State at a cost of $6*10,026.