140 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



Id regard to the general effect on vegetation, the excellent 

 condition of trees and shrubs, caused by the favourable weather 

 of the previous season, gave great promise for a glorious display 

 of bloom in 1906. Though in some measure these hopes were 

 fulfilled, a considerable amount of disappointment was caused 

 by the sudden atmospheric changes which so frequently occur 

 in our climate. 



The growth in vegetation, which showed signs of activity as 

 early as January, was checked by the colder conditions of 

 February and March. Once, however, the power of the sun 

 began to be felt, vegetation made rapid headway in the early 

 part of April, only to receive another check by a sharp frost on 

 the 19th of that month, which greatly damaged the bloom on 

 early forms of rhododendrons and other shrubs which happened 

 to be in flower, while the tender foliage of those trees which 

 naturally leaf early also suffered severely. Growth was some- 

 what slower for a time, and the development of shoot and 

 flower was retarded by the dry and cold weather which pre- 

 vailed during the latter half of April and part of May. There 

 was an excellent display of flower on most of the larger forms 

 of trees, and the hopes for an excellent crop of fruit were 

 justified by the glorious bloom on pears, plums, apples, and 

 cherries. These hopes were, however, rudely dispelled by the 

 disastrous hailstorm on the 25th May, which not only stripped 

 off the flowers and embryo fruit from trees, but greatly damaged 

 the young growths and foliage of many of the larger growing 

 trees and shrubs. Those species of trees and shrubs which in 

 their natural course were later in starting into growth, and thus 

 escaped the damaging storm, made a splendid display, and 

 verified the prediction of an excellent bloom. The hawthorns, 

 laburnums, and other deciduous shrubs were generally well 

 bloomed, whilst the later rhododendrons gave one of those 

 periodical displays of flower which cause them to be ranked as 

 one of the most valuable shrubs for our gardens and wood- 

 lands. 



The pasture lands, which were unusually fresh and bright 

 in the early months, got somewhat browned in April ; and, 

 while the grass was late in starting into growth, it improved 

 rapidly in June, and hay crops were much better than anticipated. 

 Cereals generally also turned out well, though later in being 



