138 WILD FLOWEKS OF 



the Blackthorn (Primus spinosa), which in average 

 seasons usually blooms about the middle of April, was 

 not in flower until May 1st, although in the hot spring 

 of 1840, I noticed it in flower at Stanton in Wor- 

 cestershire, on April 1st, as it was also at Worcester 

 in the very warm spring of 1848. 



The Hawthorn (Qratcegus oxyacantha), which is in 

 many springs at least partially in flower on May-day, 

 only commenced flowering to my observation in 1837 

 on May 26th, for in a communication I made in that 

 year to " The Naturalist"* I penned this remark: 

 " May 26. Noticed a Hawthorn-bush in flower for the 

 first time this year, but in a ride of thirty miles it was 

 the only one so circumstanced." The Hawthorn was 

 almost equally late in coming into flower in 1839, 

 while in 1840 it was observed in flower in Worcester- 

 shire on April 25th, and on the first of May was 

 copiously in blossom. The Pear Orchards ought in 

 genial seasons to be generally in flower in the second 

 week in April, continuing till the middle of May ; but 

 in 1837, the Pear-trees were not fully in flower until 

 May 15th, although in 1840 their flowering was over 

 by the 1st of May, when the Apple-trees, generally 

 a fortnight later, were in their primest perfection. 

 The Horse Chesnut usually displays its splendid 

 thyrsi of flowers the latter end of April and beginning 

 of May, but in 1837 this tree only came into flower 

 on May 25th ; yet, in 1848, it flowered at Worcester 

 on May Sth.f 



* A Periodical, then edited by NEVILLE WOOD, Esq., but since discon- 

 tinued. 



t In the Phytologist for 1848, will be found a paper, by myself, on the 

 " Acceleration in the flowering of Plants and frondescence of Trees," 

 incident to the high temperature of the spring of that year. 



