Gardening and the British climate

976. The preference of Britain, as to government and civilisation, and its equality at least as to soil and surface, will not be disputed. As to climate, Charles II, in reply to some who were reviling it, said, he thought ' that was the best climate where he could be abroad in the air with pleasure, or at least without trouble and inconvenience, the most days of the year, and the most hours of the day;' and this, he thought, could be done in England more than in any other country he knew of in Europe.