feet. III. THE COUNTY OF FIFE. 



SECT. III. CLIMATE. 



THE climate of Fife is, in general, much 

 inilder and more temperate, than might have 

 been expected from its high northern latitude 

 milder, indeed, and more friendly to vegetation, 

 than many parts of the island that are placed in 

 a more southern situation. 



The degrees of heat and cold are not always 

 in proportion to the latitude of the place ; but 

 are, frequently, and to a considerable degree, 

 influenced by the elevation of the country, the 

 quality of the soil, and its state of improvement ; 

 its relative situation, and the natural or artifi- 

 cial shelter which it enjoys. By these circum- 

 stances the climate of Fife, as well as of other 

 countries, is very evidently affected and diver- 

 sified. 



In that part of the county which stretched 

 along the Frith of Forth, and which is not 

 greatly elevated above the level of the sea r well 

 cultivated and improved, and tolerably shelter- 

 ed by inclosures and the numerous plantations 

 around the seats of noblemen and gentlemen, 

 the climate is warm and temperate. Snow sel- 

 dom lies long ; and in the case of continued 

 storms, the frost generally disappears a consi- 

 derable time before it leaves the higher and more 

 inland parts. In the middle and northern dis- 

 tricts, where the ground is high and moun- 

 tainous, the soil is cold, wet, and less improv- 

 ed ; or, where it is destitute of shelter, the as- 

 pect is bleak, and the air more cold and pens- 

 trating. 



C 2 



