Calendar of Nalure. 28-5 



Calendar of Nature for the Carse of Oowrie, Perthshire. 



April, — The mean temperature for this month was only 42*8°, or about 

 3° below the ordinary average temperature for that month. From the low 

 temperature of the three months immediately preceding (see p. 204.), it may 

 easily be inferred that at the end of April vegetation was unusually late. 

 Cold north and north-easterly winds prevailed for the most part of the 

 month, with the exception of only 6 days, from the 14th to the 20th, on 

 which days the wind was westerly. The Erythronium d6ns canis (Dog's- 

 tooth Violet) opened its flowers on the 1st, the Pulmonaria paniculata on 

 the 3d. The sea-mew appeared on ploughed fields in the Low Carse on 

 the 8th. Gooseberries were in leaf on the 8th, 27 days later than last 

 season. The Soldan^lla alpina and Draba aizoides, two alpine plants, 

 were in flower in Annat garden on the 12th. Wildgeese had taken their 

 departure by the 14th ; it is remarked that they never leave the Carse till 

 they have tasted the young braird of beans. Daffodils were in flower on 

 the 14th, 26 days later than last season. The larch tree, which usually 

 shows its foliage between the 1st and 5th of April, did not appear green 

 before the 25d. Green-gage plums were in flower on walls on the 29th, 

 23 days later than last season. Oats that were sown in Annat park on the 

 Sth, gave a braird on the 28th, or 20 days later. Mean temperature of 

 that period, 44°. The atmosphere was cloudy 20 days, and clear 10 days. 



Mai/. — At the beginning of this month vegetation was about 23 days in 

 ar^ear. The mean temperature for the month was 51*5°, which is more 

 than half a degree above the ordinary average. The wind was north and 

 westerly 14 days, and north and easterly 17 days. There were 9 days in 

 which the atmosphere was clouded, and 22 of clear sunshine ; which, to- 

 gether with the limited fall of rain, will account for the rapid progress 

 vegetation made towards the latter end of the month. The sloethorn was 

 in flower on the 3d. Barley sown at Annat park on the 17th of April 

 brairded on the 2d of May, a period of 14 days : mean temperature of that 

 period, 43'3°. Swallows appeared on the 3d ; but, as insects were scarce, 

 some were found dead near the coast. The cuckoo was heard on the 6th : 

 we never hear that bird nowadays in April in this quarter. The horse- 

 chestnut came in leaf with the appearance of the swallows, and the wood 

 anemone came in flower at the approach of the cuckoo. Crows were 

 fledged on the 9th, 5 days later than last season. Barley sown on the 

 1st brairded on the 10th inclusive, a period of lO days: mean temperature 

 of that period, 47*7°. The maple was in leaf on the llth; the summer 

 snowdrop and Tris pumila in flower on the llth ; the beech and lime were 

 in leaf on the 13th ; and figs, on walls, in leaf on the 14th. At this period, 

 vegetation was only 6 days behind what it was at the same period last 

 season. An exception appeared in the lilac, which did not unfold its blos- 

 soms till the 24th, about 12 days later than last season. The Virginian an4 

 Rose strawberries, too, seem to haVe been retarded longer than other plants 

 in unfolding their blossoms, which did not appear before the 17th. Barley 

 brairded on the 18th which had been sown on the 9th, a period of 9 days: 

 mean temperature of that period, 51*1°. Turnips brairded on the 18th 

 which had been sown on the 13th, a period of 5 days : mean temperature 

 of that period, 53-1°. The walnut came in leaf on the 24th. Red-streak 

 apples w^e in flower on the 26th, and the JVarcissus on the 36th. So that 

 vegetation is at this time within two days* march of last season at the end 

 of May ; a proof that a late spring is no sure indication of a late harvest. — 

 A. G. Annat Gardens, June 1. 1829. 



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