CLIMATE AND RAINFALL. 33 



other country, and is very much due to the 

 climate. 



The climate of the eastern side is drier than as in- 

 fluenced by 

 that of the west, the fall of rain at equal alti- climate, 



tudes being as 25 inches in the east to 35 in the 

 west. The drought and heat are greatest in the 

 east, centre, and south-east in spring and 

 summer. The whole western side of the 

 country is comparatively mild and -moist, and 

 specially adapted for green crops and pasture. 

 The east, having generally a deeper soil, and 

 greater heat in summer, is best suited to wheat 

 and barley. It produces 64 per cent, of all the 

 wheat and barley grown, and 74 per cent, of the 

 pulse-crops. The west, on the other hand, 

 contains more than twice the extent of per- 

 manent pasture, and produces nearly double 

 the number of cattle. The waters of the Gulf 

 Stream envelop the British Islands. Their 

 vapours, carried over every part of the kingdom 

 by prevailing west winds, temper the cold of 

 winter and the heats of summer. This favours 

 the growth, on the west especially, of succulent 

 herbage and green crops, and we are free from 



