232 Account of the Climate, $c. of' the North of France. 



nized as withstanding the frost, and as. being later in vegetat- 

 ing than any other variety. I never observed any appear- 

 ance of disease in the potatoes raised in this country. 



The horticultural productions are very abundant, and, up- 

 on the whole, rather luxuriant, approaching to that which is 

 termed rank — -the quantity and size being much more char- 

 acteristic than the richness of the flavour. Still, however, the 

 cherries, currants, apples, pears, peaches, plums, and other 

 fruits, form a great part of the wealth of the inhabitants. 

 Gooseberries are not much cultivated, and are chiefly used in 

 an unripe state. Much use is made of roasted apples and 

 pears, more especially in the time of Lent. The coarsest ap- 

 ples and pears, which are otherwise only fit for making cider 

 and perry, become pulpy, and of a fine subacid taste, by sim- 

 ple roasting in the oven. In this state they are preserved 

 close packed in jars for almost any length of time, and with- 

 out the addition of sugar. Spinage and sorrel are also pre- 

 served in jars, so as to furnish a constant supply at a trifling 

 expence during winter and spring, — a little salt and half 

 boiling of the leaves being all that is necessary. For the pur- 

 pose of promoting and protecting early vegetation, I find 

 much advantage is derived from the use of easily moveable 

 hurdles, made by placing a thin layer of straw or reeds longi- 

 tudinally between thin wicker-work, and which can be con- 

 structed at almost no expence. These are placed in various 

 directions around the beds, and shifted according to circum- 

 stances. There is one method of having early salad, which is 

 very simple. They sow the lettuce seed very thick, and when* 

 the young plants are about an inch in height, they are thin- 

 ned out. These young plants make a most delicate salad, 

 and the taste can be rendered more piquant by the addition 

 of a few plants of the Lactuca virosa, or by a little endive, or 

 blanched dandelion. 



On the sea-shore is found the Critim. marit. inqj., which, 

 when confected in vinegar, is an article of commerce. 



The prevailing quality of the air is humidity, the face of 

 the sky being commonly concealed by a sombre greyness of 

 the atmosphere, at no great height above the earth. The 

 barometer is variable, seldom remaining of the same height 



