34 The Landed Interest. 



other country, and is very much due to the 

 cHmate. 

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



fluencedby 



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

 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 permanent pas- 

 ture, 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 the extremes 



