2 NOTES. 



warmer. In the progress down to congelation, no vegetation can be carried 

 on, as the water in plants, chills them in that state, and when below 32, often 

 kills them altogether. 



1 1 Mr Ker, an eminent brewer at Peebles, in Scotland, found, that English 

 barley, on an average, yields fully one-fifth more of fermentable substance, from 

 the same weight of grain, than Scotch barley. Peeblesshire Report, p. 7, note. 



12 Ross-shire Report, p. 33. 



13 Humboldt found some plants growing in the galleries of mines, which re- 

 tained their natural green appearance, though kept in places completely dark. 

 But this was owing to the uncombined hydrogen gas, which abounded there. 

 See Robertson's Natural History of the Atmosphere, vol. ii. p. 190. The 

 plants called esquisetum, found anno 1812, in the cast-iron pipes which supplied 

 Edinburgh with water, were likewise green. Communication from John Farey, 

 Esq. 



14 General View of Vegetable Nature, by Mr C. F. Brisseau Mirbell, print- 

 ed anno 1815, published in the Quarterly Journal of Science and the Arts, 

 printed by the Royal Institution, No. III. p. 48, where Mirbell's work is with 

 justice stated to be, the best lecture, on the subject of vegetation, that has hither- 

 to appeared. 



1 5 Kent Report, p. 250. Hence the importance of destroying weeds, by 

 whose roots so much valuable moisture is absorbed, (more especially in light 

 soils), and taken from the nourishment of the crop sown or planted. 



16 General Report of Scotland, vol. iv. p. 136. 



17 Statistical Account of Scotland, vol. xix. p. 249. In such latter case, there 

 is often a quick vegetation in the shocks of the grain after it is cut down, or it 

 heats in the stacks when carried into the barn-yard ; and drizzling rains, during 

 warm weather, when a crop of wheat is approaching to ripeness, are almost cer- 

 tain to mildew it. 



18 Survey of the Norman Islands, by Thomas Quayle, Esq. p. 242. 



1 9 The German Ocean is above three degrees colder in winter, and five de- 

 grees warmer in summer, than the Atlantic. From that greater warmth, a co- 

 pious evaporation takes place, which produces those thick mists (or haars, as 

 they are called), which arise from the sea, and advancing upon the land, occa- 

 sion colds and other disorders. General Report of Scotland, vol. i. p. 42. 



20 Ross-shire Report, p. 3. 



21 Forfarshire Report, p. 75. 



22 See the Tables in the East Riding Report, p. 10. 



23 Cornwall Report, p. 4. ".When the wind is impregnated with saline par- 

 ticles occasioned by the west and south-west winds beating the salt water against 

 the beach, all the hedges and trees on the windward side are destroyed, and ge- 

 nerally speaking, the foliage wears the aspect of its wintery dress." Sussex Re- 

 port, p. 3. 



24 Lancashire Report, p. 2. 



25 Williams on the Climate of Great Britain, p. 2. and 3. 



26 Autumnal frosts creep along the beds of rivers, destroying the corn in the 

 flowering season, and blasting the stems of potatoes in low situations. Winter 

 frosts are ultimately rather favourable to vegetation ; as snow is, particularly 

 when it covers the ground for some time, and gradually melts away. It has 

 been remarked, that frosts and great falls of snow have a sedative effect upon 

 the atmosphere. 



27 Thus the eruptions of a volcano may prevent the more fatal shocks of an 

 earthquake. See Woodward's Essay, p. 3*. 14. 



28 Young's Travels in France, vol i. p. 313. At the same time, it is an un- 

 doubted fact, that in Dumbartonshire, rocks nearly bare of earth, and almost 

 perpendicular, under oak coppice, have brought, by the sale of wood and bark, 

 a price equal to an annual rent of from 18s. to 20s. per English acre. General 

 Report of Scotland, vol. ii. p. 248; Stirlingshire Report, p. 212; Dumbarton, 

 shire Report, p. 156 ; and Derbyshire Report, vol. ii. p. 225. 



29 In France, meadows are higher rented, and pay heavier taxes, than vine* 



