OF PLANTS. 115 



Emily. I am often inclined to envy them their olean- 

 ders and pomegranates, which blossom so beautifully in 

 the open air, and require the shelter of a greenhouse on- 

 ly in winter ; while we produce very inferior plants of 

 the same description even in our hothouses. 



Caroline. Yet the temperature of Switzerland must 

 be lower than its latitude would indicate, owing to its 

 elevated situation ; for being nearly in the centre of Eu- 

 rope, whence almost all the great rivers have their source 

 and flow into the sea, it must be the spot most raised 

 above that level. 



Mrs. B. Certainly. In estimating the temperature 

 of a climate, the prevalence of hot or cold winds, such 

 as the sirocco in the south of Italy, the mistral in the 

 south of France, and the bise in the valleys of Switzer- 

 land, should be taken into consideration, as well as the 

 locality of the spot ; which, independently of its degree 

 of elevation above the level of the sea, is liable to be af- 

 fected by a variety of circumstances. One of these, 

 which, however remarkable, naturalists have not hitherto 

 been able satisfactorily to account for, is, that in coun- 

 tries of similar elevation and latitude the temperature is 

 always higher in those situated on the western than on 

 the eastern side of a continent. It is warmer, for in- 

 stance, at Nantes, on the western shore of'France, than 

 at Quebec, on the eastern shore of America, both being 

 very nearly of the same latitude. At Quebec, snow- 

 shoes and sledges are in general use during several 

 months of winter, and booths are built upon the frozen 

 river St. Lawrence ; whilst at Nantes frost and snow are 

 little known, and of short duration. 



Emily. But how far can plants accustom themselves to 

 a climate and temperature which is not natural to them ? 



Mrs. B. It varies extremely, according to the nature 

 of the plant. The horse-chesnut, which is so well natu- 

 ralised to our northern climates, that it braves even the 

 inclement skies of Sweden, was originally brought from 



646. Why does Caroline say the temperature of Switzerland must be 

 lower than its latitude would indicate! 647. What winds are named 

 that should be considered in estimating the temperature of a placel 

 648. For one circumstance named naturalists have been unable to ac- 

 count what is it! 649. What comparison is made between Nantes 

 and Quebec 1 650. What is said of the horse-chesnut'? 



