In the western parts of Sutherlandshire, the climate is rainy, but not unhealthy. The rain continues not only for hours, but often for days, nay for weeks, if the wind blows from the west; if it veers to the south its continuance will not be long.
In the Orkney islands, the south-west wind blows with the greatest frequency and violence, and brings with it the heaviest rains. From the south-east, the winds are frequent, and sometimes stormy; these winds bring with them, in spring, summer, and harvest, when they most prevail, damp, moist, and foggy wea ther. The north, the north-east, and north-west winds bring dry and wholesome weather. Seldom do calms for any length of time prevail. The greatest quantity of rain falls upon the west coast of these islands, ow ing to the height of the mountains. It is calculated that 26 inches of rain, on an average, fall annually; but the amount is probably much more. Storms of are not frequent or heavy; and though they come with considerable violence from the north-west and south-east, snow does not lie long. Part of the month of June is here almost as cold as any of the winter months. For about two weeks or more, about the middle of that month, a strong and piercing wind blows from the north, sometimes accompanied with snow and hail showers. As soon as that period is past, warm showers succeed, which revive the herb age. The Orkneys, on the whole, enjoy a mild and moderate heat in summer. The range of the ther mometer is from 25° to 27° of Fahrenheit: the me dium heat is 45°. The range of the barometer is three inches.
The climate of the Zetland Isles may be presumed to resemble, in most respects, that of the Orkneys. Though the sky is inclement, and the air moist, the country is far from being unhealthy.
Upon the whole, it appears from this sketch of the climate of the western coast of Scotland, and its isles, that, though moist, it is mild and temperate. The frosts are not intense, and the snows do not lie long upon the ground. The west and south winds prevail, accompanied by frequent and heavy rains; but such a climate seems admirably suited, by Providence, to maintain a constant verdure in a soil, which is, for the most part, thin and porous: and thus the natural constitution of this zone seems to point out the pas turage of cattle and of sheep as the way in which it should be principally occupied.
2. The Middle Zone, including the Midland Counties.
This region of Scotland may be considered as com prehending the counties of Dumfries, Selkirk, Pee bles, Lanark, Linlithgow, together with the eastern part of Stirlingshire, Clackmannanshire, Perthshire, and a part of Inverness-shire.
Having entered so largely into the detail of those circumstances which distinguish the climate of the western coast, it may suffice to observe, in general, with regard to this middle region, that the rains are less frequent; that the violence of the winds, pro ceeding from the Atlantic, is abated by the interpo sition of the mountains, which give shelter from the west and south-west: and that, from these causes combined, the weather is, upon the whole, of a more equable tenor. At the same time, and upon these ac counts, joined to the greater general elevation of this region above the level of the sea, the frosts are more intense and lasting; the snows lie longer upon the ground, and the climate is less mild than on the west ern coast.
In Dumfries-shire, the air is dry; the winter is stormy and cold; the winds high, and the rains, in many seasons, heavy, but seldom any continuation of snow. This county, as well as the stewartry of Kirkcudbright, and shire of 'Wigton, have a southern aspect.
In Peebles-shire, the air is in general dry and healthy; but in the higher parts of the county, it is for the most part moist.
Lanarkshire is situated so singularly, in general reference to this region, as to require more particu lar notice; and, fortunately, this notice is furnished, in a very superior style, by Mr. Naismith, the intel ligent Reporter of Clydesdale. It is hoped that the reader will be gratified with a somewhat enlarged detail of the climate of this county.
Lanarkshire, with a great portion of Renfrewshire, affords the most remarkable instance in Scotland of an extended slope declining towards the west. On a smaller scale, the county of Dumfries has a southern aspect; and the stewartry of Kirkcudbright and shire of Wigton, have a similar aspect to the south. Ayr shire, as well as Lanarkshire, declines to the west. The greater part of the rest of Scotland forms, it is well known, an inclined plane towards the east. In this district, however, we have an example of a ter ritory sloping towards the sea, from an elevation of 2368 feet above its level, and discharging its waters, by a great river, into the Atlantic. This is a circum stance which must, no doubt, be considered, as influ encing the climate of this district: and it is presumed that this influence may be traced in Mr. Naismith's account.