Perennial Calendar, 95 



tremely hot and dry season of 1826 : but the mean temperature for 1826, 

 for the vegetating season, was about 2° higher than in 1828, during the 

 same period ; the high temperature that prevailed during the winter months 

 of the last season, will account for the approximation of the annual tem- 

 perature for both years. The fall of rain in 1826 was only 14 in. the half 

 of which fell during the vegetating season. 



The fall of rain last year was near the ordinary average, and measured 

 28-26 in., 14i of which fell from the 20th March to the 20th October, 

 which accounts for the general luxuriance of the crops in this country. 



The mercury, in the barometer, was highest on the 29th October, bein^ 

 on that day 50 Fahr., it was lowest on the 2 1st March, being at 28-10. Fahr., 

 The warmest day was on June 28; mean heat of that day 67° 5', extreme 

 heat 77°. The coldest day was on the 12th February; mean temperature 

 of that day 32^ greatest cold 28°. The wind blew from the north-east, 

 east, and south-east, 153 days, and from the north-west, west, and south- 

 west 213 days. The only loud gales of wind occurred on the 16th and 

 17th January from the east, on the 14th February from the east, on the 

 9th March from the west, on the 24th and 25th September from the west, 

 on the 20th and 27th November from the west, and on the 7th December 

 from the west. 



Calendar of Nature for 1828,/or the Carse of Goivrie, Perthshire. 



January. Frost prevailed from the commencement of this month till the 

 17th, though not severe. The Winter Aconite (Eranthis hyemale) ap- 

 peared above ground on the 19th, and was in flower by the 23d; Snow- 

 drops were in flower on the 31st. 



The robin red-breast sang regularly from the 18th, and the mavis and 

 blackbird commenced singing on the 28th. 



February. The temperature for the first ten days averaged 46° ; a snow 

 storm prevailed from the 10th to the 28th ; the weather from the 18th was 

 mild till the end of the month. The common Mezereon (Daphne Mezh- 

 reon) showed its flowers on the 3d, and on that day the field lark com- 

 menced singing. Bats were seen flying at Perth on the 5th; partridges began 

 to pair on the 7th ; magpies began to build their nests on the 10th, which, 

 on discovering their mistake by a fall of snow, they tore down on the 14th. 



The male flowers of the hazel (Corylus ylvellana) were developed by the 

 16th, the Water Saxifrage (Chrysosplenium oppositifoliura was in flower 

 by the 27th. 



March. In this month there were eleven days of clear sunshine ; towards 

 the middle of the month the temperature was unusually high. The »S'axl- 

 fraga oppositifolia, a beautiful little Scottish mountain plant, was in flower 

 at Annat Garden on the 4th ; rooks began to build on the 6th ; frogs were 

 heard croaking on the evening of the 8th; and the female blossom of the 

 hazel appeared on the 9th; gooseberries were in leaf by the Hth; Moor- 

 park apricots in full flowers on south walls, by the 12th; daffodils and 

 jonquils by the 17th; marsh marigold (Caltha palustris) by the 20th; 

 peaches in flower, on south walls, by the 26th ; wild geese beginning to 

 set off in flocks from the Low Carse. 



April. The temperature was as low as 40°, at the beginning of this 

 month, but rose gradually to a mean of 48° towards the end. The wind 

 blew from the N. E. till the 10th ; a circumstance not uncommon in the 

 early part of April, and always accompanied with cold, occasioned, as is 

 supposed, by the winds blowing over the melting snows in the northern' 

 parts of Europe. Green gage plums were in flower on walls by the 6th, 

 apricots on standards by the 8th, sloe tree in flower and the whitethorn^ 

 and larch in leaf by the 10th. Swallows appeared on the 23d, and the 

 maple tree was in leaf by the 24th. 



