METEOROLOGICAL NOTES DURING THE YEAR 1897. 177 



development of the flowers, but causing the blooms to drop 

 quickly. The crops of fruits were irregular, and generally below 

 the average. 



The withering effects of the cold winds, which were so apparent 

 on arboreal vegetation, were less marked on grass lands, owing to 

 the frequency of showers, which supplied them with the necessary 

 moisture, consequently the growth, though slow, was steady, and 

 there was a full crop of hay; while the cereals made not only a 

 steady and satisfactory growth, but the grain developed well, so 

 that the crops were, though later than in the previous year, better 

 in bulk and quality. The green crops were a fair average, excepting 

 potatoes, which were under in bulk and quality owing, no doubt, 

 to the absence of sunshine and warmth which is so essential to the 

 growth of that useful and indispensable vegetable. 



As indicated, the growth made by trees and shrubs was less 

 satisfactory than usual. The prospects of a bright display, there- 

 fore, in our woodlands is not great, and rarely is there such a 

 paucity of flower-buds on E-hododendrons and similar shrubs as 

 there is this season. Deciduous plants are somewhat better than 

 the evergreens, but in this district, so far as can be observed, they 

 are not very well set with flower-buds, consequently there is little 

 promise of a fine display of bloom on fruit trees, though it does 

 not always follow that a great amount of bloom means a heavy 

 crop of fruit, as much depends on the quality of the weather when 

 the trees are in bloom for the proper setting of the fruit. 



Though our hopes for a season of brilliant sunshine and genial 

 weather were not fulfilled last year, we can again express the hope 

 that the current year will have these desirable conditions, so that 

 in stimulating the vegetation, which in our smoky atmosphere has 

 a severe struggle for existence, the comfort and health of the 

 citizens will be likewise enhanced. 



Subjoined is the Meteorological Record for the last three years 

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



