^dtang* 347 



tion of the wind near the surface, as these confirmations of 

 the eminences must often and sometimes very materially 

 alter the original course of the currents in the air. The 

 most reliable evidence is to be had from the course travelled 

 by the clouds themselves ; and, if that be from the south or 

 south-west, we recommend the tourist to have his umbrella 

 or waterproof ready. 



S. M. 



BOTANY. 



The Lake District, and the margin of comparatively level 

 land extending to the Cumberland shore, affords such a 

 scope for the natural production of plants as few of the 

 English counties possess. 



The great diversity of altitude, and consequent variety of 

 climate ; the numerous and extreme changes of mineral and 

 vegetable soils; the complete circuit of aspect occasioned 

 by the multiplicity and varied character of its hills and dales ; 

 the perfect exposure to the sea-breezes in some parts, the 

 exclusion from them in others ; and the very different de- 

 grees of moisture to which the district is subject, accommo- 

 date the growth of a great variety of British Flora — the 

 product of almost every locality between extreme anglo- 

 alpine and the verge of the sea. 



Perhaps no district, of the same limited extent, furnishes 

 a more numerous assemblage of Cryptogamic plants ; that 

 least explored but very beautiful department, and which may 

 be not inappropriately called winter-botany. A great pro- 

 portion of the singular system of blooming peculiar to this 



