SCIENCE OF COMMON THINGS. 107 



Effect of the sea on the climate. Of mountains on temperature. Natural soils. 



6 7*4 W hat disturbing circumstances affect the temperature of particular 

 situations f 



1. The elevation and form of the land ; 



2. The proximity of the sea ^ 



3. Mountains, swamps, and forests; 



4. The nature of the soil ; and 



5. The prevalence of cold or warm winds. 



67*5 What effect is produced on temperature by the configuration of 

 lands? 



Islands and peninsulas are warmer than continents ; 

 bays and inland seas also tend to raise the mean tem- 

 perature. 



6*76 What effect has the sea on temperature ? 



In warm climates it tends to diminish the heat ; in 

 cold climates to mitigate .the cold. 



677* What effect have mountains on temperature f 



Chains of mountains which ward off cold winds, aug- 

 ment the temperature / but mountains which ward on 

 south and west winds, lower it. 



G7*8 What effect has soil on temperature ? 



A sandy soil, which is dry, is warmer than a marshy 

 soil, whicn is wet, and subject to great evaporation. 



67*0 What is a natural soil? 



Natural soils are merely decomposed parts of the sub- 

 jacent rocks, mixed with the decomposed portion of 

 vegetable substances which have grown or fallen upon 

 it, with some animal substances. 



68O What is the name given to the vegetable and animal products 

 mixed with the mineral ingredients of a soil f 



681 What beneficial effect do loose stones and" rocks have upon dry 

 porous soils ? 



They retain moisture in the soil by preventing the 

 evaporation which would otherwise take place. In 

 high lands they serve to condense fogs and low clouds, 

 and thus add to the moisture of the subjacent soil. 



G83 What countries are the most cloudy f 



Those where the temperature and winds are most 

 variable, as Great Britain. 



