SCOTLAND. 



On theCli 

 mate of 



l-iiul. 



sttti.tk*. drawn from the inferior size of the wild animals that 

 are now produced, and also of our vegetable produc- 

 tions ; but as this is controversial ground, we shall not 

 enter upon it any farther. 



Mr. Aiton has nscribrd the deterioration of the cli- 

 mate of Scotland to the immense accumulations of moss 

 earth which have arisen from the (Irmohtioii <.i lorests 

 since the invasion of the Humans. " Moss earth is 

 peculiar to countries situated in a high latitude. It is 

 produced by the accumulation of vegetable substances 

 in a decayed and waste state. The bulk is increased 

 gradually by the addition of vegetables of the mossy 

 tribes which grow upon its surface. Of all other soils, 

 peat earth absorbs and retains the greatest quantity of 

 water ; 32^ oz. of dry moss soil, will retain without 

 fluidity 18 oz. of water ; whilst 39 os. of the richest 

 garden mould will only retain 18 oz. Moss is also 

 more retentive of cold than any other soil ; frost is 

 often found to continue in deep mosses till after the 

 middle of summer. Hence the effects of mossy ac- 

 cumulation?, in rendering the climate colder. The 

 cold evaporations which arise fiom such immense tracts 

 of the soil as exist, particularly in Scotland, chill the 

 atmosphere, and increase the bleakness of the cli- 

 mate."* 



In treating of the climate of Scotland, Dr. Graham 

 of Aberfoyle, whose judicious selections from the Statis- 

 tical Account we shall here make use of, divides it into 

 three districts ; I . The west coast of Scotland from the 

 south ; 2. The middle zone, including the midland 

 counties ; and 3. The eastern coast of Scotland. 



1. Climate of the West Coast. 



Climate f The counties of Kirkcudbright and Wigton, on the 



the west south- west coast, enjoy a pure and salubrious air. The 



coast. lower parts in particular have less rain than the more 



northern districts of the west coast, an effect which is 



probably produced by the shelter which it receives 



from Ireland. In the interior of Kirkcudbrightshire 



the frosts are sometimes intense, but the snow does 



not lie long. In Wigtonshire, the winters are very 



cold, and the air though moist is salubrious. 



Ayrshire has a mild and temperate climate, but the 

 air is very moist and damp. The westerly winds blow 

 severely on the coast during the winter. 



Renfrewshire is visited with frequent and heavy 

 rains, and in Dumbartonshire, which has the same cha- 

 racter, the rains which come from the south and south- 

 east are accompanied with high winds. 



Argyllshire is considered the most rainy county in 

 Scotland, being exposed to the unbroken influence of 

 the Atlantic. The vapours of the ocean are attracted 

 by its lofty mountains, and the clouds discharge them- 

 selves in torrents on the valleys. In the district of 

 Cowal, and probably over the whole county, " the face 

 of the heavens is generally louring and cloudy ; sr se- 

 rene sky is seldom to be seen. The winds, pre- 

 vented from a free circulation, rush through the glens 

 with irresistible violence ; and, st the bottom of high 

 hills, and in narrow valleys, the transitions from heat 

 to cold are sudden and excessive." The winters are, 

 for the most part, mild and temperate; but the sum- 

 mers are frequently rainy and cold. Frosts are not in- 

 tense, nor do snows lie long. 



Inverness-shire may perhaps be considered as in 

 some parts sheltered by the lofty mountains of Skye, 



ml by the Wektern Met, which furnish 

 against the ocean. In iu eastern districts, " the air fo _ 

 < I v and healthy." On the west coat, M nifhl be e- 

 pected, the air it moist, and generally very cold ; pSi? 

 but so purified by storm*, and kept in motion by rapid 

 currenti, that it is, upon the whole, clear and healthy." 



In the itland of Skye, " from the height of the hills, 

 and the proximity of the sea, the air seldom continues 

 long of the same temperature ; sometimes it is dry, 

 of toner moist, and in the latter end of whiter and be. 

 ginning of spring, cold and piercing." The climate of 

 the Wettern Isles is to stormy on the side that is 

 exposed to the Atlantic, that the inhabitants chiefly 

 reside on the eastern aide, which ia sheltered by the 

 mountains. 



In the western parts of Sutherlandshire, the climate 

 is rainy, but not unhealthy. The rain continue* not 

 only for hours, but often for days, nay for wetks, if 

 the wind blows from the west ; if it veers to the south 

 its continuance will not be long. 



In the Orkney islands, the south-west wind blows 

 with the greatest frequency and violence, and bring* 

 with it the heaviest rains. From the south-east, the 

 winds are frequent, and sometimes stormy : these winds 

 bring with them, in spring, summer, and harvest, when 

 they most prevail, damp, moist, and foggy weather. 

 The north, the north-east, and north-west winds bring 

 dry and wholesome weather. Seldom do calms for 

 any length of time prevail. The greatest quantity of 

 rain falls upon the west coast of these islands, owing 

 to the height of the mountains. It is calculated that 

 26 inches of rain, on an average, fall annually ; but the 

 amount is probably much more. Storms of snow are not 

 frequent or heavy ; and though they come with con- 

 siderable violence from the north-west and south-east, 

 snow does not lie long. Part of the month of June ii 

 here almost as cold as any of the winter months. For 

 about two weeks or more, about the middle of that 

 month, a strong and piercing wind blows from the 

 north, sometimes accompanied with snow and hail 

 showers. As soon as that period is past, warm showers 

 succeed, which revive the herbage. The Orkneys, on 

 the whole, enjoy a mild and moderate heat in summer. 

 The range of the thermometer is from 25 to 27* of 

 Fahrenheit : the medium heat is 46. The range of 

 the barometer is three inches. 



The climate of the Zetland Isles may be presumed 

 to resemble, in most respects, that of the Orkneys. 

 Though the sky is inclement, and the air moist, the 

 country is far from being unhealthy. 



Upon the whole, it appears from this sketch of the 

 climate of the western coast of Scotland, and its isles, 

 that, though moist, it is mild and temperate. The 

 frosts are not intense, and the snows do not lie long 

 upon the ground. The west and south -winds prevail, 

 accompanied by frequent and heavy rains ; but such 

 a climate seem 3 admirably suited, by Providence, to 

 maintain a constant verdure in a soil, which is, for the 

 most part, thin and porous : and thus the natural con- 

 stitution of this zone seems to point out the pasturage 

 of cattle and of sheep as the way in which it should 

 be principally occupied. 



2. The Middle Zone, includimg the Midland COSM/M*. 



This region of Scotland may be considered as com- die 

 prehending the counties of Dumfries, Selkirk, Feeble*, """ 1 '*"* 



See Alton's Treatlte on Peat Mott, and the General Report tf Scotland, rol IT. p. lit. 



land 

 ties. 



