12 Climate. 



judicial at any season of the year, but more especially in seed- 

 time and harvest. In regard to the former, if the seed does 

 not get a dry bed, the crop it produces is necessarily much 

 injured ; and the more completely that the damps of winter 

 and spring are dried up, in the months of March, April, and 

 May, the greater is the chance of an abundant return at har- 

 vest. 



The disadvantages of a wet climate to a farmer, more es- 

 pecially if accompanied with a retentive soil, are very great. 

 It is calculated, that in the richest district in Scotland, the 

 Carse of Gowrie, there are only about twenty weeks in the 

 year fit for ploughing ; whereas in several parts of England, 

 they have thirty weeks, and in many cases more, during 

 which this essential operation can be performed. Hence 

 ploughing must be much more expensive in the one case than 

 in the other. 



The season of the year in which rain abounds, is likewise 

 of much importance. An excess is prejudicial in any season, 

 but is peculiarly so in autumn, when it often lodges the grain 

 by its violence, or, by its long continuance, prevents the corn 

 from being properly harvested. The hopes of the husband- 

 man are thus blasted, and the fruits of his toil and industry 

 are frequently diminished, and sometimes entirely lost ( I? ). 



Dews also, have a great effect in furnishing plants with 

 moisture ; and, indeed, without their aid, vegetation, in warm 

 and dry climates, could not go on. Even in temperate re- 

 gions, dews are beneficial. In Guernsey, on the coast of 

 Normandy, the autumnal dews are singularly heavy, so much 

 so, that in the middle of a hot day, the dew drops are not 

 quite exhaled from the grass. From this moisture, the after- 

 grass receives great benefit ( * 8 ) . Dr Hales estimated the quan- 

 tity of dew that falls in one year, at three and a half inches : 

 Mr Dalton at nearly five inches. In this matter, however, it 

 is not easy to be correct. It must vary indeed in different 

 places, and even in the same place in different seasons. 



5. Prevailing Winds. These have a great influence on the 

 character of a climate, and powerful effects on vegetation. 

 When they pass over a large expanse of water, they are usual- 

 ly of a warmer or higher temperature in winter, than those 

 which blow over high lands ; more especially if such come 

 from countries covered with snow. Hence the east and north- 

 east winds, which have passed over the coldest regions of 

 Europe, are much colder than the west and south-west winds, 

 which blow over the Atlantic Ocean, and they oftener occasion 

 blights. The former are comparatively drier, unless when 



