Farming of Devonshire. 
457 
Table No. 1 is the mean of the observations taken at Exeter 
by Thomas Shapter, Esq., M.D., and near Torquay by E. 
Vivian, Esq., affording explicit and accurate information on the 
climate of South Devon. The second Table gives a fair average 
for all the counties of England* south of 53° latitude. The mean 
degree of temperature in Devon is about V'b above that of the 
southern and midland counties of England : a fact which might 
be anticipated from their relative degrees of latitude. A more 
minute examination of the monthly reports reveals to us the in- 
teresting fact, that during the summer months this county is 
absolutely colder than the whole range of country from the south 
coast to the 53° of latitude. The monthly range of temperature 
throughout the year is in favour of Devon, being on the average 
7° '7 less than that stated in Table No. 2; and the daily range 
of heat maintains a similar steady character. The influence 
exerted on vegetation by the small variation of heat is very bene- 
ficial, and the gradual manner in which it occurs accelerates the 
growth of plants by a more continuous development of their organs. 
The annual quantity of rain and the humidity of the air are both 
largest in Table 1, and by comparison it will be observed that 
in the months of May, June, and July the atmosphere is 
moister ; whilst during the greater part of the remaining months 
of the year it is drier. In the summer months, when the sun is 
pouring forth his scorching rays on vegetation, plants derive much 
refreshment and vigour from the gentle dews which nature 
supplies. At this time, therefore, they need an abundance of 
moisture in the air ; and it is remarkable that this is the very 
period when Devonshire is favoured above other counties. The 
quantity of water thus deposited is regulated by the amount of 
vapour in the atmosphere, and the very profuse dews of this 
district are referable to this cause. This county is therefore well 
adapted for the cultivation of roots and other green crops where 
the soil suits : for corn more precarious. The above peculiarities 
* I have taken for my guidance the meteorological observations pub- 
lished by the authority of the registrar-general, which are deservedly 
considered the most accurate that have been reported, the instruments 
having been compared with those of the Royal Society at Somerset House, 
and the observations taken with much care by gentlemen in dift'erent parts 
of the country ; still a continuation of these observations for several years 
is desirable to correct or confirm these averages. The second table has 
been calculated from the reports of the following places : — Brighton, 
Chichester, Uckfield (Sussex), Beckington (Somerset), Royal Observatory 
and Maidenstone Hill, Greenwich, Lewisham (Kent), Walworth (Surrey), 
Latimer Rectory (Bucks), Aylesbury (Bucks), Hartwell (Bucks), Stone 
Observatory, Saffron Walden (Essex), Hereford, Cardington (Bedford), 
Thwaite (Suffolk), Cambridge, Norwich, Derby and Highfield House 
(Notts), Cornwall being purposely omitted as possessing many of the same 
peculiarities of climate as Devonshire. 
VOL. IX. 2 H 
