MEAN SCOTTISH METEOROLOGY. 279 



5. Wind Force and Annual Cycles. 



(Tables XXIX. and XXX.) But after all that may be said for distinguishing various 

 climates in Scotland, by all the possible refinements and varieties of Thermometrical 

 registrations, — the practical results of the small limits of temperature-variation so 

 found in this land, may be entirely overborne for the general population, unless aided 

 by a concomitant and discriminating territorial return for each spot, of the wind force 

 really prevailing there. For extra violence and constancy of wind movement, which is 

 too often met with in Scotland, is of a most pernicious character in its effects on both 

 human health and industry, as well as on plant life and growth ; — to an extent moreover 

 not sufficiently taken notice of yet, in most of the scientific meteorological Journals. 



Thus as to the former more valuable kind of existence and activity, the human, — 

 the most freezing days even of mid- winter by the thermometer, are often accounted, by 

 those who undergo them, most pleasant aDd enjoyable, if it can only be said " that there 

 was not a breath of air stirring at the time." While, on the other hand, in special 

 situations where the sea- winds may blow perpetually, though they do happily prevent 

 the thermometer from ever going down much below 32° F., — yet they cause all the human 

 discomforts and even distresses of really severe cold to be felt to an extent that is both 

 aggravating, lowering to the whole system, and often intolerable. 



And then as to wind effects, whether in low or high degree, on botanical kinds of life 

 and growth, — take the highest expression of plant glory, as it appears in a gigantic, 

 wide-spreading, many-storied, leafy tree ; in what sort of country as to wind-force do 

 you find that? 



The old Roman poet had such a tree in his mind's eye, when he wrote for the delecta- 

 tion of the world through nearly two millenniums of years following, 



" Tityre, tu patulee recubans sub tegmine fagi." 



Some 15° to 18° of extra mean-temperature above the Scottish, may have aided in 

 that particular result, but more in determining the kind, than the size and shape of the 

 tree. For almost as fine examples in measure of what Nature can do for other species of 

 trees, may be found in many a sheltered valley or home park in Perthshire or Inverness- 

 shire ; simply because in those recesses the conditions as to wind force, approach those 

 of the old Roman tree, grown as a later poet has declared, under 



" The tempest-proof, pavilion of the blue Italian sky." 



And the demonstration thereof is not far to seek ; for within a few miles only of 

 those more quiet neighbourhoods of the Scottish midlands, but down by the sea-coasts 

 or up on the hill-tops the perpetually roaring gales of wind have caused a tree, of any 

 species whatever, if seen at all, to become a mere ragged, lopsided, leaning-over bush; a 

 mere scare-crow of vegetation, and a rarity which the native horses are said to shie at if 

 met with by some road-side. 



