JOURNAL 
OF  THE 
ROYAL  AGRICULTURAL  SOCIETY 
OF  ENGLAND. 
I . — On  the  Climate  of  the  British  Islands  in  its  Effect  on  Cultivation. 
By  Nicholas  Whitley,  Surveyor,  Truro. 
Prize  Essay. 
1.  There  are  three  primary  elements  necessary  to  the  success  of 
agricultural  operations  — skilful  husbandry,  a well  constituted 
soil,  and  a genial  climate.  The  first  of  these  is  now  placed 
within  the  reach  of  every  intelligent  man,  and  depends  on  the 
application  of  his  own  skill  and  industry;  the  constitution  of  the 
soil  is  in  general  well  adapted  by  nature  for  the  functions  it 
has  to  perform,  and  where  it  is  defective,  its  composition  may  be 
corrected  and  its  productive  powers  increased;  but  the  elements 
which  constitute  climate  appear  to  be  beyond  man's  control ; he 
is  comparatively  powerless  to  mitigate  its  rigour,  or  to  add  to  its 
generous  influence.  It  is  man’s  master  exacting  submission,  not 
his  servant  obeying  his  behests.  Of  what  avail  then,  it  may  be 
asked,  is  the  knowledge  of  such  a subject?  That  we  may  bend 
to  the  power  we  cannot  control,  and  learn,  to  adapt  our  culture 
to  the  capabilities  of  the  climate  : indeed  climate  is  the  ruling 
principle  of  agriculture — the  law  which  governs  the  productions 
of  different  countries,  and  he  who  yields  the  most  enlightened 
obedience  obtains  the  largest  reward. 
2.  It  is  not  necessary  to  compare  the  productions  of  equatorial 
regions,  or  of  the  shores  of  the  Mediterranean,  with  those  of  our 
own  country,  to  illustrate  this  law:  the  agricultural  difference 
between  the  Highlands  and  Lowlands  of  Scotland — between  the 
mountains  of  Wales  and  the  eastern  coast  of  England,  afford 
equally  instructive  examples.  The  distribution  of  heat  in  these 
islands  is  most  remarkable  and  anomalous;  and  the  quantity  of 
rain  which  falls  on  some  districts,  is  six  and  even  seven  times 
greater  than  on  others ; these  causes  produce  corresponding  effects 
on  agriculture,  and  therefore  present  a subject  which  claims  a 
careful  investigation  from  the  cultivator  of  the  soil. 
VOL.  XI. 
B 
