'My motive for laying before you my views on this subject, and preparing the samples of fibre for your inspection, is, that I am anxious to submit to you, and through you to the agriculturists and people in general of this island, the desirability and advantages in an individual and national point of view to be derived from the adoption and extensive cultivation of fibrous plants. As I have already mentioned, the great scarcity, exhorbitant price, and widely-spreading demand for fibre throughout the world, render the materials of which it is manufactured of much importance, particularly in this country, where labour is scarce and dear, and agriculture at its lowest ebb. Many of these fibres will be found of superior quality, and produced in greater abundance than any grown in temperate regions. "I have made a very moderate calculation of the produce of an established field with Plantains, which I find to be as follows:

:

An acre planted with suckers, at ten feet apart, will contain
435 plants, and the first year will produce as many bunches

of fruit worth 6d.

£10 17 6

Each stem will yield 1 lb. of finely-dressed fibre, worth 6d. 10 17 6

Amounting in sterling money in all to....£21 15 0

METEOROLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS.

The present number contains the Monthly Meteorological Reports for November 1855, in continuation of the series hitherto published in the Canadian Journal; and those for December, along with the abstracts of the various observations for the past year would also have been included, but for unavoidable impediments incident to the starting of the new series, with a different size of page, which render the materials formerly used for setting up the Monthly Meteorological Regis ters of the various Canadian observers no longer available.

The December number of the Journal contains three papers on the subject of Meteorological Observations in Canada, from which it will be seen that a very little time must elapse before a greatly extended staff of observers will be in full operation throughout all the settled districts of Upper Canada; and the impetus thus given to such labors in this important department of science, cannot fail to be productive of valuable results. The example set by the Upper Province, will, it may be confidently anticipated, stimulate those at the head of the scientific and educational institutions throughout British North America to follow its example, and thus contribute some of the links in the great chain of philosophical researches in Physical Geography and Magnetism, now embracing so widely extended an area of the globe.

Already symptoms of an intelligent and increasing interest in this subject are apparent. Professor Williamson, of the University of Queen's College, Kingston, has intimated to the editor his intention of enlisting as one of the contributors to this branch of scientific observation, and furnishing to the Canadian Journal monthly tables from Kingston, corresponding with those already due to the Meteorological and Magnetic observations made at the Provincial Observatory of Toronto University, and to the indefatigable labors of Dr. Smallwood, at St. Martin's, Isle Jesus, Capt. Noble, and Mr. W. D. C. Campbell, at Quebec, and Dr. Craigie, at Hamilton. It has been resolved by the Canadian Institute, after mature deliberation, that its duties in relation to this department of science shall be strictly limited to publishing the observations supplied by the various scientific laborers throughout the Province; but even this, it is obvious, must speedily become both an onerous and very responsible duty, as the stations multiply through the Province, and the number of volunteer observers increase. Meanwhile the work is not incompatible with the general features of this Journal, but the period is probably not far distant when the Institute may find it advisable to publish in a distinct and independent form the Meteorological and Magnetic Journal of British North America.

MONTHLY METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER, AT THE PROVINCIAL MAGNETIC OBSERVATORY, TORONTO, CANADA WEST.-NOVEMBER, 1855.

Latitude. 43 deg, 394 min. North. Longitude, 79 deg 21 min. West. Elevation above Lake Ontario, 108 feet.

329 476 29600 27 725 29616 49 2 518 39'5 469 +65
805 374 453 373 400 -0°2
*820 312 424 328, 354-46
291 418]

648

590

851

*82

882

...

770 *794 *835
'852 *801 *831
924 *924
'878 *769 *663 760 427 50 7 468 456 + 7·1
*627 *610 *569 602 470 527 498 49 6+10'5
498 508 612 55 46's 53 474 496 +10'6
866 *978 891 578 493] 4376, 431 +45
930 089 30-100 997 30059 383 452 417 40 9+ 25
1029 88T 20744 $752 20 79 393 477 453 445 + 6'5
11 775 *742
470 489
12 *625 *491
51 8 528 481 501 +126
13 *795 '817
125 511 420 458 + 8'6
872 337 533 441 440+ 71
616 434 47:7 483 47'0 +10'5
*634 536 381 302 384 + 21
*575 25'9 333 363 307 - 5'1
29 4 356
'88 29' 32'0 26 9 289
-6.2
905 237 312 327 29: 5'6
503 892 35 7 29.4 347 +00
946 237 298 201 278 -6.6
821 372 420 370 37+ 41
793 23'0 313 327 28% - 49
363 408

14 '887 *874
15 *824 *615 *432
16 *295 *628 866
17 *852 *523 *334
18 *683 *729
19 *792 *833 *955
20:30-001 *973 *775

2129594 *402 *667
22:30:001 *989 *856
23 29-502 *141 *280
244 $752 '843 *775
25 *552 204

...

261 312 318 *614 425 346 402 323 359 +34
27 *550 *147 *029
327 45 5 409 30:5+ 73
28 28*985
*085 *233 137 388 376 208 31 0.7
29.29 419 *490 623 .52 195 259 269 248 6.7
30 '711 *593 484 36 23:3 38 1 362 327+ 16

29.677 29 637 29'667 29.664|| 36.3 427 377 386 + 240188 0190186 019

147

161 216 176 196
190 272 8317 269 '68 81
315 133 129 181 *86
106 136 213
140 152
145 136 09 130 89 *75 63 80
113 158 172 146 '86 *91 93 89
211 135 095 152 89 '66 *58 73
109 12 123 120 83 '78
149 17 160 163 67 '65
104 124 168 126 *$1 71
13240
*62 *95

84

61

62 68

*95*84

58 74 74

74 71100 81 85 71

*76 79

Nb W

72 72
.92 '80

E EbS E 20 N128 | 332
WbSWN WW3N 72 142 192
W
W W8N122 217 10:0
ESE SE S44 E 45 30 12:0
WbSNWbN W 26 N104 18 4 365
WbN WSW W 2 S10612'2
SWb S WSW
W6S 21 8 205 220
N W WbNSW bW W18 N259 160 10 0
SSE SW WbNW 39 S 8.8
76S WbW WbN WbN W 7 N14 2
64 65 S WbW WS WSW W W 31 S13 2
*63 *68 WSW Nb WNNWN 30 W 147 206 20:5
'85 '77 NW bW W WbSW 20 N 10'6 195 8:0 10.9%
66 79 73 Wb WSW bs SW bWS 44 W 46 18'0 10.5 11:38

4.5

17 08

0.180

0:5

'82 69 78 74

W 24 N

9.74 13:08 10:54 10'81

4.596

3:0

Highest Barometer.

Lowest Barometer

REMARKS ON TORONTO METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER FOR NOVEMBER. .30131, at 8 A. M. on 9th 28953, at 6 A. M. on 28th Monthly range:=1148 in.

Highest registered temperature, 59° 2 at P. M. on 15th } Monthly range:=437.

Lowest registered temperature, 15° 5 at A. M. on 29th

Mean maximum Thermometer, 450 50 Mean daily range: = 16° 76.
Mean minimum Thermometer, 28 74

Greatest daily range 26° 5 from P, M, of 28th to A. M.of 29th,

Least daily range

7° 6 from P, M, of 30th to A. M. of 1st December,

Warmest day...12th... Menn temperature: 50° 13 | Difference: 25° 33.

Coldest day.. 29th... Mean temperature: = 24° 80
Greatest litensity of Solar radiation

67° 0 on P. M, of 14th.
12° 0 on A. M. of 20th.

Lowest point of Terrestrial radiation

Monthly range.

55° 0

Aurora observed on 5 nights, viz.. 3d, 5th, 12th, 16th and 18th,

Possible to see Aurora on 19 nights.

Impossible to see Aurora on 11 nights.

Raining on 8 days, raining 572 hours, depth 4590 inches.

Snowing on 6 days, snowing 110 hours, depth 30 inches.

No thunder or lightning recorded this mouth.

Mean of Cloudiness, 0'60.

The mean velocity of the wind was 456 miles per hour above the average of the
last 8 years, and is the greatest for any month yet recorded in the observa-
tory,

In looking out for the periodic display of meteors, from the 11th to the 14th,
about 30 were observed on the 12th, between 10h and 15h; and 17 on the
13th between 8h and 14h. At 14h 40m of the 12th a brilliant meteor 3' in
diameter appeared in the west at a point 45° above the horizon, from
whence it descended vertically. Its course was marked by a belt of light,
3' in diameter, whose color changed from deep red to green and white,
and which lasted 10s with undiminished splendor; the luminous path con-
tinued visible at least 1m 30s.

SUM OF THE ATMOSPHERIC CURRENT, IN MILES RESOLVED INTO THE FOUR
CARDINAL DIRECTIONS,

1844
1845 36'8
1846
+45
413
1847 386
5872 7.8 5074
1848 345 -23 49:3 1675 328
1849 42'6 +5'8 56.7

12.0

37.8

imp't. 4

80

58'8

7.6

512

7 1:105

4

5'0

55'5

8.2 873

0'59"
0.18 "

0534
0.64 "
0:36

9 2:020

3

14

W9°N

4.8 miles

The mean temperature of November 1855 was 1° 8 above the average of the las 16 years, and the depth of rain that fell 1'564 inches above the mean.

Mean

36.76

50'1
--3'9
-0'8 504
+19 541 14:4
368
0'0
549 151 39.8
1855 386 +18
541 18:7 354
54'60

1675

536

5 3885 6

6'7

W39 N

דיאו

317

7 1775

3

20

W 31 N

4.70" 6.50 "

39.7

15 2.425

6

2.7

NISE

552

16

13 1115
£500
8
1513 5947 92 5026 46

4

6

Day.

2

198458999

10

11

MONTHLY METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER, ST. MARTIN, ISLE JESUS, CANADA EAST-NOVEMBER, 1855.

(NINE MILES WEST OF MONTREAL.)

BY CHARLES SMALLWOOD, M. D.

Latitude-45 deg. 32 min. North. Longitude-73 deg. 36 min. West. Height above the Level of the Sea-118 feet.

.94 .96 .95

10PM

SSWNNW

SSE 96 74 90 NNE ENE NNE

S

NE NEbyN

NE byENE by E NE by E
S WSW W SW
SW

SW

SW

129.696 29.680 29.857 39.7 48.4 41.1 .245 .349 .254
.990 .978 994 31,5 44.5 33.0 190 310 187
330.009 30.042 30.048 30.1 41.6 29.0 168 207 161 90 74 89 NE by N NE by N NEbyN
.094
.047 .190 28.1 43.8 30.0 166 209 169 90 69 90 NEbyN NE by N E
.209 .174 .100 26.2 39.1 35.0 156 181 206 96 73 92 ENE ESE E by N
6 29.991 29.906 29.906 31.6 51 1 41.0 185 274 253 95 70 90 SE by ESE by ESE by E
7 .857 .704 .730 40.1 57.0 49.5 245 385 350 91 81 90 SE SE by EN by W
.784 .921 30.010 47.1 51.2 39.1 323 279 234 94 71 91 WhyN WhyN WSW
9 30.198 30.231 .265 32.7 47.0 32.5 197 277 191 95 80 95 W by N SW SW
.121 29.987 29.964 30.0 48.2 39.0 176 231 224 94 74 89 NEbyN SSE
.084 30.100 30.192 38.2 48.6 40.2 226 281 227 91 80 85 NE byN
12 154 .044 29.914 36.8 43.4 42.4 214 252 263 99 85 92
13 29.817 29.900) .939 41.0 53.2 42.5 263 323 235 99 79 85
14 .964 .845 .909 39.6 55.7 43.7 234 331 252 95 72 85
15 30.045 .965 .775 31.6 46.1 37.0 185 246 179 96 75 76
EbyN NE by E
16 29.284 .498 .901 36.0 41.0 26.5 221 191 165 99 70 90
WN WW NW
17 30.120 30.044 .874 20.2 25.0 23.1 114 123 106 87 79 76
NE by E E NE
18 29.629 29.784 .752 21.0 26.7 26.1 126 157 156 93 94 96
WSW SE by E
19 .795 .842 .984 22.0 25.0 13.1 131 123 083 94 79 82
W by NW by N
20 30.173 30.153 30.170 1.0 19.2 8.8 048 080 066 95 64 93
W W by N
21 29.847 29.590 29.521 12.0 18.1 18.6 085 106 124 88 87 99
NE by ENE byN
22 30.051 30.069 30.070 5.4 20.1 15.6 058 103 108 92 87 94 W by NW by NSW by W
23 29 802 29.296 29.140 20.0 32.6 34.0 121 199 216 93 94 96 S
24 29.661 30.124 30.081 9.0 24.1 13.2 064 103 083 90 68 82 NW
25 29.827 29,552 29.279 21.0 28.9 34.1 118 179 192 88 95 99 SE
26 .271 .341 .886 36.0 34.2 30.1 220 195 177 99 91 94 WSW
27 .606 .421 .210 21.8 34.8 32.5 134 214 199 95 92 95 SW by W
28 29 010 29.025 .285 36.0 37.8 21.3 230 218 092 97 71 91
29 29.469 .457 .642 8.1 17.0 12.7 065 084 096 93 73 82
30 .857 .862 .772 12.2 27.7 26.7 094 137 161 88 82 94

N W

ESE

NbyW

N
W
WSW
NE by

E

Co6A.M.

2P.M.

10 PM

Rain

in Inches,

Snow

in Inches.

2.52 3.52

1.66 0.306

3 00 13.21 9.33
8.40 9.01 3.51)
7.45 4.40 0.12
146 1.80 3.16.

5.93 7.63 9.91
4.12 1.55 0.41 Inapp
5.18 14.30 1.13 0.396

274

Clear.

Str. 10.

Cum. Str. 4.

Cir. Str. 10.

Do. 6.

Str. 10.

Clear, Aur. Bor.

Cir. Cum. 5.

0.100

Cir. Str. 10.

Cum. Str. 10.

Rain.

14.75 13.90 16.36
8.00 4.23 5.08
2.54 10.40 18.541
5.57 11.36 5.05
9.85 7.76 8.50
35.00 29.71 8.40
5.05 4.00 10.52
18.00 0.51 6.30 0.377
23.18 0.42 4.36 Inapp
8.44 5.17 17.00 Inapp
10.08 11.67 17.70
10.00 7.82 4.05

...

Do.

Snow.

Rain.

Do. 10.

Clear, Aur. Bor.

Cir. Str. 6.

Temperature of Air.

Tension of Vapor.

| Date.

10

6

2 10

2 10

6 A.M. 2 P.M. P.M. MEAN

6
A.M. P.M. P.M. Mn. A.M. P.M. P.M. MN. A.MP.MP.MMN. 6 A.M. 2 P.M. 10 P.M

MONTHLY METEOROLOGICAL REGISTER, QUEBEC, CANADA EAST, NOVEMBER, 1855. BY CAPT. A. NOBLE, R.A., F.R.S., AND MR. WM. D. C. CAMPBELL.

Latitude, 46 deg. 49.2 min. North; Longitude, 71 deg. 16 min. West. Elevation above the level of the Sea, 200 Feet.

Rain in Inch.

Snow in Inch.

Humid'y of Air. Direction of Wind.

Velocity
of Wind.

REMARKS.

6

10

.8-1.99 .86 .90 Calm. Calm.
.S9 .89 .68 .82 Calm.
.68 51 72 .64]
.77 .91 .84

.53 89 76

.5! 72 .71

729.875 .660 .634 723

23

-215 28.875

35.3 47.3 48.0 43.5
47.3 46.5 38.0 43.9
33.1 41.8 32.0 35.6
31.1 392 37.7 36.0
37.7 44.4 38.2 40.1
31.9 35.3 37.1 34.8
34.8 39.0 38.8 37.5
34-5 48.0 37.039-8
31.7 38.0 35.2 35.0
33-2 40-3 25-1 32.9
20.5 25-1 20.4 22.0
-649 19'0 21-0 24.3 21.4
.669 24-8 20-1 10.5 18.5
6.4 18.1 12.4 12.3
7.8 19.8 21.0 16.2
17.2 22.7 15.4 18.4
19.6 25.1 31.7 25.5

8 .594 .957 .894 .815
9 30.056 30.099 30.176 30.110
10 1.67 29.977 29.868 .00-1
11 29.973 30.074 30-215 .087
12 30.308 .230 .066
.201
13 29.917 29-755 29-756 29-809
14 .782 .670 775 744
15 .926 .900 .753 .860
16 .298 -220 717
.412
17 .898 .943 .864 -902
18 .649 -623 .675
19 .527 .644 .835
201 .954 .989 -991
21 .876 758 .522
.733 .728 .812
.543

-978

719

*768

•244

.821 00 .8S

13.1 17.8 19.0 16.6
23.0 24.6 23.4 23.7
14.2 15.2 14.3 14.6
10.5 19.4 21.7 17.2
25.86 31.95 28.45 28.75 .1297 1377 .1343 1339 .835 .692.796.774

.70 57 81 .69 .98 1.00 1 00] .99 .77 70 .69 .72 .83 .64.80.7€

.188 .267 .210 229
.166 .267 .137 .196
.119 101 .120 113
.127 .170 .167 .155
.144 155 .202 .167
.182 166 173 174
184 230 .243 219
.311 256 210 .259
.154 .121 .132 .136
.127 155 169 150
.186 184 .160 .177 .83 .64 70
138 138 165 147 77 .67 75
202 236 223 221||1.00 1.00 .96 .95 ENE
.200 206 173 193 1.00 .62 79 .80 Calm.
.133 115 149 132 7551 72 .66
173 190 .091 151 91 77 66 .7
.062 062 .065 063 54 .45 .57 .52 N W
.087 115 125 109 81.99 .94 .91
ENE
.123 .058 .047 076 93 51 63 .C9 N N WNNWNNW
.045 .060 .074 .060 71 .58 .90 .78 W N W W Calm.
.066 085 112 088 98 75 .06 .90 Calm. ENE ENE
.076 070 .066 071 77 .55 .72 .68 w sw WSW WSW
.092 113 166 124 -83
w sw Calm. Calm. 2.0 0.0 0.0
.060.041 .037 046 71 55 61.62 W NW WNW Calm. 32.2 15.6 0.0
.065 099 148 104 .78 851 00 .88 Calm. Calm.
.169 144 .090 134 1.00 .72 63 78 Calm. W
.059 .058 .087 068
WNW WNW
.123 135 128 129
ENE E
.068 .064 .061 064:
W
N W
.062 .070 .095 076
N W

W

E

N W

0.0 15.2 10.0

E

E

Calm.

8.0 5.2 0.0

Calm.

W

Calm.

0.0 3.8 0.0

0.0 0.0 7.2 .620

2nd. At 2 a.m. Auror
visible thro'h a break
in the clouds.