By the aspect of ground, is generally understood the direction of its surface relatively to the different points of the compass. A south-eastern aspect, or that in which the surface of the ground has an inclination to the south-east, is, in Britain, generally considered the best, because it is the warmest. The winds from the south-east are never very violent: they are neither so cold nor so dry as those from the east, and they occur less frequently than winds from any other quarter. On a hill side, especially if the hill he high, the aspect least subject to high winds is decidedly to be preferred; but, in a flat country, a slight inclination of the surface, in any direction whatever, is a matter of no great consequence. An aspect to the south is, in some cases, less favourable than one to the north: for example, when the objects which are seen from the windows of the house are near; as, in that case, the worst side of the trees is seen, and that side will be wholly in shade, during the most agreeable part of the day, in winter and spring. An aspect to the north, on the other hand, shows the best side of the trees; the light side of all objects, during winter and spring; and the greatest variety of light and shade during summer, and, in short, throughout the year.

In the choice of a situation for a house and grounds, the views from the house should not alone be taken into consideration. Recreation in the open air is one of the great advantages of a country residence; and an aspect sloping to the south will admit of the grounds being walked in during winter, when, with one sloping to the north, they will be covered with snow, frost, or moisture. Land sloping to the south may also be much sooner walked on after rain, at all seasons; and it is a great source of enjoyment to persons living in the country, and fond of seeing the progress of vegetation, to examine their gardens and grounds immediately after a shower, while the trees and plants are in the very crisis of excitement, produced by a liberal supply of water after a long drought. Every one knows that a garden sloping to the south or south-east not only produces earlier crops, whether of culinary vegetables, fruits, or flowers, than any other, but that it may also be walked in through the greater part of the winter.

Grass fields open to the south produce earlier pasture, and the corn grown on arable land so situated ripens sooner.