METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1896. 117 



and shrubs, though the dry weather in May miUtated against the 

 setting of fruits, and consequently the crops of large fruits were 

 under the average in various parts of the country. 



Although the grass lands suffered somewhat by the drought of 

 May, the rains and warmth of June rapidly restored them, and 

 there was an excellent crop of hay, which was generally secured 

 in good condition. The cereals, which likewise were bulky in 

 crop, were harvested with difficulty and frequently in bad con- 

 dition, owing to unfavourable weather in September and October. 

 The grain was consequently in many cases seriously damaged. 



As already stated, the growth made by trees and shrubs during 

 the season was of exceptional quality ; and, in the case of deci- 

 duous sorts, there is every prospect of an excellent display of 

 bloom in orchard and woodland for the ensuing season. The open 

 wet weather of autumn, however, caused a secondarv growth on 

 many evergreen shrubs, and, as these growths are soft and succu- 

 lent, their condition to resist frost is of a less satisfactorv nature. 

 It may be noted that, in the case of Rhododendrons, some varieties 

 are unusually well set with flower buds whilst others are unusually 

 barren. In our notes for 1895 we remarked that in the Parks 

 many old plants were seriously crippled by the severe frosts of 

 that year. In many instances the growth made since then has 

 been so weak, showing that the vitality of the plants had gone, 

 that we have been reluctantly forced to clear them away entirely. 



Subjoined is the Meteorological Record for the last three years, 

 as kept at Queen's Park, and the averages for the last twelve 

 years. 



