JOURNAL 



OF 



THE ASIATIC SOCIETY 





No. 94.— OCTOBER, 1839. 



Art. I. — Memoir on the Climate, Soil, Produce, and Husbandry of 

 Afghanistan and the Neighbouring Countries.— By Lieut. Irwin. 1 



PART I. — OF CLIMATE. 



Section I. — Of Temperature. 



48. Even the most northerly parts of these countries lie in latitudes 

 considered warm in Europe. But it is sufficiently known that 

 latitude alone does not decide the temperature of countries. In 

 the same parallel of latitude in the Russian empire the heat is 

 less as the eastern longitude is greater. The causes of this dif- 

 ference seem yet unassigned, and until they be both assigned in 

 a satisfactory manner, and shewn to be common to the southern 

 parts of Europe and Asia in the same longitudes, there is but 

 slight ground for concluding a priori the fact to be similar in 

 them. The influence of altitude however on the temperature of 

 place is undeniable, and exemplified in many familiar instances. 

 Nor can it be denied, that the greater or less frequency and severity of 

 rains must affect the heat of a place. Other causes might also be 

 mentioned, for instance, the course of the winds. Distinct also from 

 those which influence the annual heat of any place, there are causes 

 which affect the equability of heat during the succession of the seasons. 

 Maritime places have a temperature more uniform than inland. Even 

 considerable inland lakes communicate a more equable temperature 

 to their banks. The effects are the same of moisture in the soil. 

 Countries whose surface is chiefly formed of sand or stones have more 



1 Continued from p. 776. 



5 H 



