32 



in a laboratory the soils of a country, we can discov- 

 er their composition and ascertain their deficiences ; 

 the deficient ingredient may be supplied, and al- 

 though it should be in small quantities, it may be done 

 in a form that may be generally practicable, and thus 

 may essentially change the character of a soil. 



The honorable gentleman has, without doubt, tru- 

 ly assigned the causes of the mildness of the climate 

 of western Europe, and especially of Great Britain ; 

 and he has indicated with equal clearness and truth 

 the causes of the comparative coldness of the Eas- 

 tern countries of North America. In this connexion 

 it may be remarked that the western countries of this 

 continent enjoy a climate far milder than the eastern. 



The climate of these western countries is affected 

 by their position in relation to the vast Pacific ocean, 

 which produces an effect similar to that of the Atlan- 

 tic ocean upon Europe, but in a far greater degree. 

 Thus the climate corresponds to a considerable de- 

 gree with that of the western shores of Europe. Its 

 mildness is such that the plough may be driven near- 

 ly or quite through the whole year. Its temperature 

 is, perhaps, considerably affected by its geological 

 formation and by the extensive range of volcanoes, 

 which stretch along its shores, and some of which are 

 still breathing forth their internal heat. Here every 

 thing is on a vast scale; and the agricultural 

 products will at no distant day, become abundant 

 and highly important. We cannot indeed alter the 

 climate of a country ; but we may in some measure 

 accommodate our husbandry to its peculiarities and 

 variations. 



