254 A LIFE'S WORK IN IRELAND. 



An interesting illustration has been mentioned 

 to me by Mr. Scott from the climate of the Scilly 

 Islands, which may be taken as an exaggeration of 

 the climate of Ireland. He says : 



" In Scilly the mean monthly temperature ranges 

 only from 45 to 6 3, being a less variation than at any 

 other place in these islands. The north of Donegal 

 and Shetland most nearly approach it. The result 

 of this very equable spring temperature is that vege- 

 tation is always going on, and no crop or fruit will 

 ripen thoroughly. A few bad apples are the only fruit 

 besides gooseberries. The plants that flourish there 

 are sub-tropical, such as aloes, yuccas, mesembryan- 

 themums, and, of course, large geraniums and fuchsias. 

 The produce of the islands is to a great extent vege- 

 tables for the London market, especially new potatoes. 



" The climate is an exaggeration of your southern 

 climate, such as Cape Clear, the mean temperature 

 for the year being 1 higher. The reason of the 

 very exceptional climate of Scilly is due in some 

 measure to the set of the currents at the mouth of 

 the English Channel." 



I think the suitableness of the Irish climate for 

 growing potatoes was one cause that led to the great 

 extent of potato cultivation there before the famine, 

 which has hitherto been ascribed mainly to social 

 and political causes. Till the blight, potatoes 

 flourished in Ireland better than elsewhere, and 

 therefore were more grown. 



