The influence of the Atlantic predominates through out the whole bounds of Lanarkshire; the winds blow ing about two-thirds of the year from south-west and west. The easterly wind, which conveys haars from the German Sea, is interrupted by the hills on the east side of the county; so that the temperature is moderate. Intense frost seldom continues long ; and long lying snows are rare. The clouds, in passing over the flat and lower parts of the county, often leave them dry, while they break in showers upon the higher ground, in the eastern and western districts.
The under stratum of most parts of this county be ing compact, and impermeable to water, the evapora tion from the moist soil is great. When a course of dry weather to effect this evaporation does not take place in spring, the seed time is necessarily late, which is one great cause of the lateness of the har vest in many parts of Lanarkshire. This. lateness is most remarkable on the higher grounds of the county, on account of the more general moistness of the air, and the greater frequency of rain.
The eastern district of Stirlingshire, together with Linlithgowshire, may be considered as partaking, with respect to climate, of the character of the east ern coast; yet on account of the narrowness of this part of the island, the influence of the Atlantic still predominates, producing a prevalence of south winds, with the most violent storms, and heaviest rains that affect this quarter. Even in the Stirlingshire carses, as well as in many other parts of the central division of Scotland, and in the whole of the western districts, the hedge-rows grow with a marked inclination to wards the north-east. The air of the district is, in general, pure and salubrious, except where those thick vapours which have been already described as arising from the extensive mosses of the county, unfortunate ly prevail.
The western district of Stirlingshire partakes of the character of Dumbartonshire, and the western district of Perthshire, with regard to climate. The vicinity of the sea, and the height of the mountains, occasion frequent and heavy showers.
The climate of the mountainous districts of Perth shire is very variable. The lofty mountains of Men teith and Brcadalbane attract the clouds, which some times burst in torrents upon the valleys: at the same time it would appear, that more rain falls upon the mountains than upon the valleys. At other times the clouds are frequently seen to take their course along the hills, bursting upon them in heavy showers, whilst the interjacent valleys enjoy serene weather. In the
more central parts of Perthshire, snow lies long, and the frosts are often severe. Along the sides of rivers; blasting fogs, and hoar-frosts, are frequent and inju rious. In the more easterly districts of the county, the climate is mild, and the air salubrious. The east and north-east winds in winter, bring snow, or rain, or mist, from the German Ocean, and occasion a de pression of the animal spirits. In the lower grounds, these moist vapours, and the exhalations from deep and narrow valleys, sometimes occasion agues; but these are now less frequent, owing probably to the improved mode of cultivation which has been intro duced.
On reaching the tract of the Caledonian canal, in the Glenmore or the great glen or dell of Scotland, this midland zone may be considered as terminated: that part of the island which lies to the north of this line becomes so narrow, that its climate may be ar ranged either under that of the western, or of the eastern zone, according to the situation of the place.
3. The Climate of the Eastern Coast of Scotland.
In general, the climate of the east coast is dry, pure, and salubrious. Agues are disappearing in Berwickshire, in consequence of draining and im proving the *surface. Easterly winds prevail, espe cially in April and May. In the Lothians and Fire, the climate is mild and temperate, considering the latitude in which these districts arc situated; In Forfarshire, the heaviest rains come in autumn and winter from the south-east, attended by violent winds; but the air in general is dry and salubrious. In Kincardineshire, although the climate is generally dry, yet the corn is sometimes deeply injured by mil dews, or sea fogs along the coast, while the interior parts remain uninjured. In Aberdeenshire, the equi noctial storms in harvest are occasionally injurious to the various crops of corn; though there arc less severe frosts in that county in winter than even in Middlesex. In the maritime parts of Banffshire, and particularly on the sea-coast of Moray, the climate is remarkably mild. On the eastern coast of Inverness and Ross-shires, it is pure, and favourable to the raising of grain. And even at the extremity of the island, the climate is temperate in the maritime parts, and the great valley in Caithness, though the thermo meter seldom rises high in that northern latitude.