CLIMATE. 33 



man ought to understand the climate of the country in 

 which he lives, in order that he may accommodate himself 

 to it in the management of himself and of the animals 

 and plants he has charge of. 



101. Our New England climate is one of extremes. 

 The heat is very great in summer, and the cold very severe 

 in winter. The climate of the west of Europe is far 

 milder. As we go west from the Atlantic the climate 

 becomes less extreme. 



102. So great is the influence of climate that each 

 country has its own peculiar productions, which it is often 

 difficult to acclimatize, that is, make to flourish, in any 

 other ; and, before introducing a new plant or animal 

 upon his farm, the farmer ought to ascertain whether it 

 is suited to the climate. But both plants and animals 

 from distant countries are frequently introduced with 

 success ; so that, without a fair trial made by himself or 

 some one else, the farmer ought not to take it for granted 

 that a new plant or a new animal will not be safely and 

 successfully introduced. 



103. The Diversity of Climate depends on many causes ; 

 some general and some particular and local. Among 

 the general causes, the first is latitude, or the distance 

 from that part of the earth where the sun is at noon 

 directly, or vertically, overhead. The heat depends, in a 

 great measure, upon the height above the horizon to 

 which the sun rises at noon. The higher it rises, the 

 hotter it is. 



The second cause is elevation above the level of the 

 sea. The higher Ve go above this level, the colder we 

 find it, till we reach the tops of lofty mountains, where 

 the snow never melts. 



