Europe : — a popular Physical Sketch. 191 



the Alps, and no forests north of Paris, Carlsruhe, Prague 

 and Ofen. 



The salutary influence of the change of seasons becomes 

 also apparent on comparing the coasts and islands of the 

 northern parts of Europe, with the interior of the Continent. 

 Iceland and the Far-island produce neither forests nor corn, 

 while both flourish on a much more northerly latitude on the 

 Continent, where the summer heat is greater, but the annual 

 mean temperature is less. For the very same reason, the 

 vine and maize limit does not extend so far northward on 

 the west-coast of France as in Germany. 



Such European plants as require a very mild winter, are of 

 course not to be expected to grow in the north of Europe ; 

 for instance, the ever-green trees, the olive, and the orange- 

 tree, and these therefore are peculiar to the south. 



Another consequence of the greater difference between the 

 seasons in the north, is, that the arrival of spring is much 

 more conspicuous. The mild air relieves the severe cold, 

 the frozen lakes and rivers thaw, the snow-cover of the earth 

 disappears, making room for grass and herbs ; the trees shoot 

 leaves, the itinerant birds arrive, and the insects are called 

 to life. In the south, on the contrary, where no snow hides 

 the earth, where field and meadows are verdant in winter, 

 and where most trees and bushes retain their leaves, the 

 only change consists in a greater number of plants springing 

 and flourishing, a greater number of trees shoot leaves, and a 

 greater number of birds and insects make their appearance. 



The arrival of spring forms there a much less important 

 era in the life of the husbandman, who, the whole of the 

 winter, may work in his field, garden, vine, or olive yard. 



The annual quantity of rain depends on the locality and 

 physical condition of the countries to such a degree, that it 

 is impossible to produce any thing like a comparison between 

 the northern and southern Europe. In lofty mountain dis- 

 tricts, the quantity of rain is very great, particularly on the 



