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PARKS AND PLEASURE-GROUNDS 



Climate of the Site. — The general temperature and 

 dryness of the air have a material influence on the 

 health and comfort of a family, and, therefore, must re- 

 ceive due consideration. These qualities resolve them- 

 selves very much into those of the park, and of the 

 district in which it is situated. Along the eastern 

 shores of the United Kingdom, and in the country ad- 

 jacent to these, in some places to a considerable dis- 

 tance inland, the climate is comparatively dry and 

 good ; but in spring and in the beginning of summer, 

 when cold withering winds from the sea are prevalent, 

 the east coast is found to be very trying to the consti- 

 tutions of some individuals. On the west coast, and 

 in the districts bordering on it, there is a much greater 

 degree of humidity, which, though in itself disagree- 

 able, is accompanied with a softness and mildness that 

 at certain seasons make the climate pleasant and ben- 

 eficial to those whose health is affected by the rude 

 severities of the center and the east. The interior hilly 

 or' mountainous regions of our island have a climate 

 peculiar to themselves ; yet, with a varying amount of 

 moisture and dryness, and of cloudy or clear atmos- 

 phere, they are generally healthy and bracing, and 

 partake of the characters of the east and west, according 

 as they approach to either coast. Some of the inland 

 and slightly hilly districts toward the east have much 

 of its dryness without its peculiar severity in spring, 

 and may, therefore, be accounted the best. The gen- 

 eral climate of the park, then, may be said to be the 

 ruling one for the mansion-house ; but in large, and 

 even in what may be considered small parks, there 

 are often localities which have modifications peculiar to 

 themselves. These variations, though inconsiderable 



