CONTENTS. 



CHAPTER I. 



METEOROLOGICAL AGENTS. 



Altitude — Aspect or exposure — Contiguous bodies of water — Nature 

 of storms — Climate of eastern and western districts compared — 

 Snow storms — Severe wind — Stagnant air — Aqueous vapor — 

 Heat — Light — The limits of the vine — Tables — Cold — Elec- 

 tricity — Different exposures ; as the summit of hills, northern, 

 southern 25 



CHAPTER n. 



ORIGIN AND PROPERTIES OF SOILS. 



Soils the result of disintegration — Causes stated by Sir H. Davy — 

 Boussingault — Hitchcock — Alluvial agencies. Properties : Spe- 

 cific gravity — Affinity for moisture — Absorption of moisture from 

 the air — Capillary attraction — State of division — Cohesion and 

 adhesion — Absorption of gases from the atmosphere — absorption 



and retention of heat 49 



2* 



