Canadian Golden Rod. _Solidago Canadensis._
Dedicated to _St. Omer_.
[313] Butler.
[314] Gentleman’s Magazine.
~September 10.~
_St. Nicholas_, of Tolentino, A. D. 1306. _St. Pulcheria_, Empress, A.
D. 453. _Sts. Nemesianus_, _Felix_, _Lucius_, another _Felix_,
_Litteus_, _Polianus_, _Victor_, _Jader_, and _Dativus_, Bps. with
other Priests, Deacons, &c., in Numidia, banished under Valerian. _St.
Finian_, called _Winin_, by the Welsh, Bp. 6th Cent. _St. Salvias_,
Bp. of Albi, A. D. 580.
~Autumn.~
[Autumn is by some supposed to commence on the 8th of this month.]
[Illustration: ~Autumn.~]
Laden with richest products of the earth;
Its choicest fruits, enchanting to the eye,
Grateful to taste, and courting appetite.
Dr Forster is of opinion that _autumn_ commences on the 10th of
September. “It occupies ninety days. The mean temperature is 49.37°, or
11.29° below the summer: the medium of the day declines in this season
from 58° to 40°. The mean height of the barometer is 29.781 inches;
being .096 inches below the mean of summer. The range increases rapidly
during this season; the mean extent of it is 1.49 inches. The prevailing
winds are the class SW., throughout the season. The evaporation is 6.444
inches, or a sixth part less than the proportion indicated by the
temperature. The mean of De Luc’s hygrometer is seventy-two degrees. The
average rain is 7.441 inches: the proportion of rain increases, from the
beginning to near the end of the season: this is the true rainy season
with us; and the earth, which had become dry to a considerable depth
during the spring and summer, now receives again the moisture required
for springs, and for the more deeply rooted vegetables, in the following
year.
“The fore part of this season is, nevertheless, if we regard only the
sky, the most delightful part of the year, in our climate. When the
decomposition of vapour, from the decline of the heat, is as yet but in
commencement, or while the electricity remaining in the air continues to
give buoyancy to the suspended particles, a delicious calm often
prevails for many days in succession, amidst a perfect sunshine,
mellowed by the vaporous air, and diffusing a rich golden tint, as the
day declines, upon the landscape. At this period, chiefly, the _stratus_
or _fallcloud_, the lowest and most singular of the modifications, comes
forth in the evenings, to occupy the low plains and vallies, and shroud
the earth in a veil of mist, until revisited by the sun. So perfectly
does this inundation of suspended aqueous particles imitate real water,
when viewed in the distance at break of day, that I have known the
country people themselves deceived by its unexpected appearance.”
Mr. Howard remarks that--“A phenomenon attends this state of the air,
too remarkable to be passed over in silence. An immense swarm of small
spiders take advantage of the moisture, to carry on their operations, in
which they are so industrious, that the whole country is soon covered
with the fruit of their labours, in the form of a fine network, commonly
called _gossamer_. They appear exceedingly active in the pursuit of the
small insects, which the cold of the night now brings down; and commence
this fishery about the time that the swallows give it up, and quit our
shores. Their manner of locomotion is curious: half volant, half
aëronaut, the little creature darts from the papillæ on his rump a
number of fine threads which float in the air. Mounted thus in the
breeze, he glides off with a quick motion of the legs, which seem to
serve the purpose of wings, for moving in any particular direction. As
these spiders rise to a considerable height, in very fine weather, their
tangled webs may be seen descending from the air in quick succession,
like small flakes of cotton.”[315]
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