It) 
CLIMATE OF DARTMOOR. 
strewed over with an immense assemblage of blocks 
of varying size. The stone itself, assumes every 
shade and combination of colour wdiich it is ever 
known to put on ; it varies also much by a change 
in the component parts ; again, it differs much in 
density, some spots being considerably softened, 
probably through some chemical alteration proceed¬ 
ing in it, and porcelain earth occurs abundantly in 
some sites where the decomposition has proceeded 
to its greatest limit. The granite of the two south¬ 
west counties however is far famed for durability, 
and supports a part of our commerce. A certain 
proportion of the white Cornish stone also, is 
shipped for the porcelain manufactories, it being 
convertible into a fine enamel. 
The climate of the moor is proverbially bleak 
and chilly, and highly conducive to health and 
longevity.* Its bleak w r inds however, can only be 
accounted agreeable , during the great heats of 
summer, when, in this tract of country, a fire be¬ 
comes a pleasant companion tow r ards evening. Hay 
and corn harvests are considerably later than in 
the South Hams, and snow invariably clothes the 
moor hills f long before the cultivated districts re¬ 
ceive its visits ; it also continues on Cosson Hill, 
its highest part, after it has left all other spots. The 
close texture of the rock causes rain, and the va- 
* A woman who resided at the foot of Brent Tor, attained to 
more than one hundred years. 
f As examples, I may instance the beginning of the winter, 
1838 ; on October 10th the moor was coated with snow, frosts 
occurred with us soon after, but we had no decidedly cold weather 
or snow, till the end of January succeeding. Again snow ap¬ 
peared on the moor about February 12th, 1839, and lay for 
several days, but we had neither frost or snow in the South Hams, 
only a cold, bleak air. On April 4th snow again appeared on 
the moor, but in the South Hams, the weather was not particu¬ 
larly cold. 
