SOIL AND SUBSOIL OF THE SITE. 



17 



soil and subsoil of a place have a much greater influ- 

 ence on its climate than at first sight might be sup- 

 posed. In our visits to country residences, we have 

 often found remarkable differences of climate, which 

 could be assigned to no other cause. Those on light 

 dry soils and subsoils seemed cheerful and agreeable 

 during winter, while others, in the same district, with 

 wet soils and retentive subsoils, were damp, muddy, 

 and uncomfortable. These differences could not fairly 

 be attributed to differences in artificial drainage, for 

 they were often visible on the same estate, and perhaps 

 in the same part, one field being moist and slabby, 

 and another being dry and airy. A little observation 

 only is required to note these peculiarities in the various 

 localities. Invalids are very sensible to their influ- 

 ences. Those places Jco which slight frosts are most 

 easily attracted will always be found, if not with wet 

 surface soils, certainly with cold, retentive, humid sub- 

 soils. These evils are best counteracted by thorough 

 drainage ; but this remedy is not always effectual, or, to 

 be so, would need to be extended to a considerable range 

 of country. Where perfect drainage cannot be secured, 

 no residence should be formed. We should even hesi- 

 tate to recommend the erection of a house on a cold 

 site, with a tilly subsoil ; for, however well drained the 

 surface may be, the air in such situations is commonly 

 raw and chill. 



Note. — The above is sound doctrine, which cannot 

 be too closely studied by all who build a residence in 

 the country. We have known spots, beautiful in loca- 

 tion, but so irreclaimably unfit for a family residence, 

 that after all the desired improvements had been made 

 at a great expense to fit it for occupation, it had to be 



