024 
Climate  of  the  British  Islands 
and  I have  seen  not  only  a much  inferior  crop  on  the  undrained 
field,  but  that  crop  harvested  fully  three  weeks  after  the  other, 
and  owing  to  this  circumstance  and  the  setting  in  of  unsettled 
weather  (which  frequently  in  our  climate  does  set  in  about  the 
autumnal  equinox),  I have  seen  even  that  crop  deteriorated  fully 
ten  per  cent,  in  value.  , 
We  may  now  proceed  to  the  “Increase  of  winter-cold  in  pass- 
ing from  south  to  north,  and  from  west  to  east." 
From  the  accompanying  map,  the  lines  of  which  are  drawn  to 
illustrate  the  increase  of  winter-cold,  it  will  be  evident  that  the 
cold  of  winter  increases  from  south-west  to  north-east,  while  the 
cold  on  the  eastern  coast  is  nearly  the  same  during  winter  in 
the  south  as  it  is  in  the  north.  The  reason  of  this  apparent 
inconsistency  I have  explained.  With  respect  to  the  authority 
for  these  lines.  I may  state  that  they  are  based  on  my  own  ob- 
servation, aided  by  the  results  of  observations  recorded  in  the 
Philosophical  Transactions,  the  Metropolitan  Cyclopaedia,  the 
Edinburgh  Philosophical  Transactions,  with  the  works  of  Daniel, 
H ovvard,  Humboldt,  &c.  In  addition  to  the  above  authorities 
and  my  own  observations,  I have  been,  where  I had  any  doubts, 
much  obliged  by  the  kindness  of  friends  living  in  the  different 
localities  who  have  assisted  me;  and  where  I had  still  doubts,  I 
have  calculated,  by  the  formulas  of  Playfair  and  Atkinson,  what, 
according  to  the  position  of  the  places,  the  temperature  ought  to 
be  ; and  if  these  results  have  not  accorded  with  observations 
pretty  nearly,  have  rejected  both. 
1 need  only  add  now,  in  explanation,  that  the  first  line  of 
44°  45'  winter-cold  is  drawn  arbitrarily  as  respects  the  part  of  the 
ocean  it  is  made  to  pass,  I not  being  in  possession  of  any  obser- 
vations made  in  that  part  of  the  ocean.  With  respect  to  the  line 
C D of  43°  50'  of  winter-temperature,  it  appears  very  irregular 
in  passing  Cornwall,  Devonshire,  & c„  and  then  bending  back 
along  South  Wales,  so  that  North  Somerset  is  warmer  than 
South  Devon  ; but  the  reason  of  this  will  be  evident  when  the 
warming  effect  of  the  Bristol  Channel  is  taken  into  account, 
also  the  shelter  afforded  by  the  mountains  of  Wales.  I need 
scarcely  add  that  all  these  lines  are  intended  to  apply  to  the  level 
of  the  soil  as  it  filters  through  to  the  drains  ; and  this  is,  doubtless,  one  reason  of  the 
fact  I have  often  proved  of  the  higher  temperature  of  the  soil  in  drained  than  in  un- 
drained land.  It  also  appears,  from  experiments  made  by  Mr.  Parkes  at  Chatmoss, 
that  the  temperature  of  the  drained  soil  averaged  10°  more  than  that  of  soil  undraiued. 
Owim'  to  the  cause  before  stated,  the  temperature  of  the  soil  in  drained  land  was  found 
greatest  after  a shower.  This  was,  doubtless,  owing  to  the  greater  temperature  of  the 
water  carried  down  into  the  soil.  This,  as  the  article  quoted  states,  is  a reason  of  the 
comparative  luxuriant  appearance  of  wheat  in  undrained  laud  during  winter,  for  then 
the  water  in  the  land  is  of  a higher  temperature  than  that  falling  in  rain,  and  the 
drained  land  is  then  colder  than  undrained.  It  appears  that  this  winter  warmth  and 
summer  cold  is  remarkably  unfavourable  to  the  growth  and  ripening  of  grain. 
