NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 71 



equalled; consequently, trees and shrubs were very luxuriant in all 

 the Parks during the summer and autumn. The only exception 

 proved to be* the horse chestnuts and limes in Kelvingrove Park, 

 which received a blight in May during a few days of east wind. 

 This, combined with the sulphurous smoke from St. Rollox, 

 rendered them unsightly for the remainder of the season. 



The flowers in all the Parks bloomed very profusely, more 

 especially geraniums and calceolarias. The planting-out season in 

 May being very favourable, the plants were enabled to get a good 

 start, and with the high temperature and brilliant sunshine which 

 prevailed daring June, July, and August, the blooms and foliage 

 were brought to remarkable perfection. The flowers continued in 

 good form until late in the autumn, indeed geraniums, antir- 

 rhinums, stocks, and pentstemons remained in bloom until the end 

 of October, when frost and snow killed them. A further proof of 

 the very mild weather in autumn was afforded by the bursting 

 into leaf and flower of the Scarlet-fruited Elder. 



As a result of the fine weather during last summer and autumn, 

 all flowering trees and shrubs promise an abundant bloom for this 

 year, especially the rhododendrons. Although the frost was very 

 severe during December, the wood and buds were well matured, 

 and do not appear to have suffered. 



It may be interesting to note that the display of flowers in 

 George Square, although in the centre of the city, was not far 

 behind that of the Parks — annuals, stocks, geraniums, calceolarias, 

 and other bedded-out plants were very effective. Experiments 

 were made by planting a number of foliage plants and shrubs, to 

 test their endurance of smoke. The following appeared to good 

 advantage all the season : — Eucalyptus globulus, or gum-tree of 

 Australia, Arabia siebohlii, various species of Dracaena, Yucca, 

 Agava americana, Echeveria metallica, Acacia lophantha, Grevillea 

 robusta. These were planted out about the beginning of June, 

 and remained in the ground until the first week of October. 



At the close of my remarks on the weather of 1877, which was 

 an extremely wet season, I expressed a wish that the old Scotch 

 proverb, "Lang foul, lang fair," might prove true in 1878, and 

 I think you will agree with me that it has been verified by the 

 following record kept at Queen's Park : — 



During 1878 there were 225 dry days, with a total rainfall of 

 26*18 inches, as against 195 dry days, with a total rainfall of 



