34 THE LANDED INTEREST. 



the extremes experienced on the Continent. 

 Grass and green crops flourish in all parts of the 

 country, and both in the low lands, and on the 

 mountain pastures of the west and north, sheep 

 feed unsheltered and unhoused during both 

 winter and summer. Beasts of prey are 

 unknown. 

 and The annual rainfall in the lower parts of the 



rainfall. 



country varies from 25 to 35 inches. In the 

 mountainous districts these figures may be 

 doubled. But, limiting our consideration to the 

 cultivated lands, it must be obvious that an 

 annual rainfall, upon an acre of land, in the one 

 case of 2,500 tons and in the other of 3,500 tons, 

 accompanied by corresponding humidity of 

 atmosphere, will greatly modify the respective 

 systems of husbandry practised. Accordingly, 

 the eastern half of the country may be correctly 

 described as the corn and fattening region, and 

 the western half as the dairy and breeding 

 region of the kingdom. The winter tempera- 

 ture is more severe in the east than in the west, 

 and that of the summer warmer and more sunny, 

 and better suited to the ripening of wheat, 



