62  On  the  Climate  of  the  British  Islands,  Sfc. 
Observations  on  the  Temperature  of  the  Surface-water,  &c. — continued. 
Date. 
1849. 
Time  of 
of  Day. 
Temp, 
of  Sea 
Temp, 
of  Air. 
State  of  Tide. 
Wind. 
Remarks. 
Dec. 
o 
o 
30 
7f  a.m. 
47 
47 
3f  Ins.  ebb 
E.N.E. 
Fresh  breezes 
Clear. 
4 p.m. 
47 
40 
4|  hrs.  flood 
Moderate  breezes 
Ditto. 
31 
8£  a-m. 
46 
34 
2j  brs.  ebb 
s.s.w 
Light  winds 
Clear  with  frost. 
50-3 
Mean 
of  tbe  month  ol 
Decembei 
■ 
1 850 
Jan. 
1 
8j  a.in. 
50 
44 
4 Ins.  flood 
W.N.W. 
Moderate  breezes 
Cloudy. 
4 p.m. 
50 
44 
Half  flood 
S.S.W. 
Light  winds 
Ditto. 
2 
8^  a.m. 
47 
43 
5 Ins.  ebb 
w.s.vv. 
Clear. 
3 p.m. 
49 
47 
5 brs.  flood 
Hazy. 
3 
8 a.m. 
48 
48 
5.j  Ins.  flood 
N.VV. 
Moderate  breezes 
Cloudy'. 
4 p.m. 
48 
48 
5 brs.  flood 
W. 
Light  winds 
Hazy. 
4 
9f  a.m. 
48 
48 
5|  hrs.  flood 
W.S.W. 
Moderate  breezes 
Cloudy  with  haze  at  sea. 
4 p.m. 
45 
48 
Low  water 
W.N.W. 
Fresh  breezes 
Hazy  at.  sea. 
5 
10  a.m. 
47 
42i 
5 Ins.  flood 
N. 
Strong  breezes 
Sunshine  with  clouds. 
4 p.m. 
47 
42 
5 hrs.  ebb 
N.W. 
Fresh  breezes 
Cloudy. 
Note  by  Mr.  Pusey. 
This  paper  appears  to  me  one  of  the  most  valuable  contribu- 
tions yet  made  by  science  to  practical  agriculture.  It  clearly 
establishes  the  causes  of  the  difference  pointed  out  many  years 
since,  by  myself,  between  the  farming  of  our  western  and  eastern 
districts.  It  shows  why  it  is  impossible  for  English  to  vie  with 
Scotch  farmers  in  the  growth  of  turnips  and  oats,  or  Scotch  with 
English  farmers  in  the  growth  of  barley  and  mangold.  It  affords 
additional  caution  as  to  dogmatic  positiveness  in  laying  down 
general  rules  for  farming  ; but  it  also  gives  substantial  information 
enabling  us,  by  consulting  the  climatic  situation  of  a district,  to 
say  in  some  degree  beforehand  what  system  of  farming  will  or 
will  not  suit  it.  Tlius,  as  to  irrigation,  the  importance  of  which 
is  now  recognised,  I was  enabled,  from  a general  knowledge  of 
the  mildness  of  the  winter  in  Argyleshire  and  Kerry,  to  anticipate 
with  some  confidence  its  success  in  those  counties  ; but  the  ob- 
servations of  Mr.  Whitley  place  that  success  now  beyond  doubt. 
It  is  also  clear  how  much  may  be  done  for  our  climate  by  drain- 
age. Fogs  and  even  rain  appear  to  be  produced  often  by  the 
mere  cooling  down  of  the  moisture  which  has  risen  into  the  air 
from  the  surface  of  the  land,  which  moisture  becomes  prejudicial 
in  fog  or  beneficial  in  rain.  Improvement  has  already  arisen,  and 
seems  to  be  advancing,  in  the  diminution  of  fogs,  but  as  to  rain, 
though  the  doubt  may  seem  visionary,  there  does  appear  to  me  to 
