in  its  Effect  on  Cultivation. 
41 
secondary  valleys  which  open  to  the  west,  and  those  on  the  eastern 
side  of  the  water-shed  line. 
Most  of  the  ancient  mansions  have  an  east  or  south-east  aspect ; 
and  with  elevated  ground  behind,  ornamental  plantations  and 
timber  may  be  raised  around  the  house  with  perfect  success. 
But  the  west  or  north-west  is  the  most  undesirable  aspect  pos- 
sible for  land,  or  a residence;  the  wind  from  that  quarter  clips 
the  hedges,  as  if  by  a gardener’s  shears,  on  the  west  coast,  from 
Cornwall  to  the  north  of  Scotland ; so  that  the  points  of  the  com- 
pass may  infallibly  be  known  by  the  state  of  the  fences.  This 
wind  loses  its  peculiar  character  further  east,  and  the  beauty  of 
the  landscape  is  unscathed  by  its  influence.  The  noble  timber 
found  in  the  midland  counties,  even  on  elevated  ground,  throw 
out  their  boughs  uninjured  in  all  directions.  There  can,  however, 
be  no  question  but  that  the  hills  of  Wales,  Cumberland,  and  Scot- 
land afford  valuable  shelter  to  some  of  the  eastern  lands. 
93.  The  low  eastern  coast  is  fully  exposed  to  a cold  blighting 
wind  from  the  north-east  in  spring,  generally  in  April  or  May, 
but  sometimes  continued  till  June.  The  hills  of  Scandinavia  are 
covered  with  snow  till  the  middle  of  May,  and  the  temperature  of 
the  air  is  down  to  at  least  32°;  the  mean  of  that  month  in  England 
is  about  54°  : this  rarefied  air  will  ascend,  and  be  replaced  by  a 
cold  current  of  dense  air  from  the  north-east.  For  the  same  rea- 
son this  wind  will  be  stronger  by  day  than  by  night : hence  the 
sailor’s  phrase,  “ an  easterly  wind,  up  in  the  morning  and  down 
at  night.”  There  is  a peculiar  character  of  regularity  about  this 
wind.  In  the  morning  it  gradually  rises  into  a stiff  steady  breeze, 
and  then  as  gradually  dies  away.  The  south-west  wind,  on  the 
contrary,  blows  at  all  periods,  but  more  especially  at  night,  when 
its  sudden  squalls,  and  fitful  gusty  moanings,  seem  like  the  agony 
of  an  unquiet  spirit.  This  character,  which  is  impressed  on  it 
along  the  region  of  the  Gulf-stream,  is  so  dreaded  by  sailors  that 
they  now  forego  the  benefit  of  the  drift  of  the  current,  in  order  to 
avoid  the  squalls  which  accompany  it. 
The  north-east  wind  is  felt  severely  in  Scotland  in  April  and 
May,  keeping  back  vegetation  in  spring,  and  shortening  the  cool 
summer.  In  Norfolk  it  is  injurious  to  the  fine  stock,  as  well  as 
the  crops  ; and  in  Kent  its  blighting  influence  is  further  extended 
to  the  fruit-blossom,  which  is  often  cut  off. 
In  addition  to  the  low  temperature  of  this  wind,  its  dry  exhaling 
character  causes  considerable  damage.  The  mild  winters  of 
England  often  force  the  grass  and  wheat  forward  in  spring,  and 
in  calm  weather  a humid  atmosphere,  from  ordinary  evaporation, 
hangs  around  the  herbage,  which  is  very  conducive  to  vegetable 
growth.  The  cold  wind  from  the  east  sweeps  this  away,  and  sup- 
plies its  place  with  a continuous  current  of  dry  air,  which  exhales 
