Calendar of Nature, t/Q 



maturely to seed in the growing crops; and although the average tempera- 

 ture in June was nearly 2° lower than in the corresponding month last year, 

 yet, for the above reason, vegetation appeared to continue in as forward a 

 state as last season, till near the end of the month. For the sake of more 

 ample reference in future, we shall make more extended remarks respecting 

 the progress of vegetation than we did in our report for June and Jul}' last 

 year. The laburnum came in flower on the 4th, and the mulberry was in 

 leaf on the 5th, the same as in 1828; the Primula scotica and farinosa 

 (bird's-eye primrose) on the 6th ; the Geranium sangulneum on the 7th, 

 and the double-flowered butter-cup (Ranunculus acris) on the 9th. The 

 web caterpillar that infests apple trees appeared on the 1 1th, a week earlier 

 than last year. The gooseberry caterpillar did not appear at all. Bees 

 began to swarm on the 10th. The Tradescantia discolor (spiderwort) was 

 in flower on the 15th, the Buddlea globosa on the Ifith, the ^'ster alpina on 

 the 18th. Clover that was sown on the 13th brairded on the 19th (6 

 days) ; mean temperature of that period 55 5° Wheat came in the ear on 

 the 22d. The destruction to wheat in this quarter last year, by the maggot, 

 excited early attention to its mode of propagation ; and numerous small 

 yellow flies were observed, on that side of the ear which had burst the 

 sheath, busily employed laying eggs through a semitransparent fine tube, 

 which entered within the glume. Though this fly had caused the evil last 

 year, it was not noticed. Strawberries were gathered on the 24th, the same 

 day as last season. Although the clover hay was ready for the scythe at 

 that time, the moist weather prevented the operation of cutting till the 

 first week in July. Field peas, that gave a braird on the 51st of March (see 

 p. 205.) came in flower on the 24th, a period of 85 days; mean temperature 

 of that period 50"5°. The web caterpillar became torpid on the 28th; 4 

 days later than last season. The wind was from the W. and N.W. 13 

 days, and from the E. and S.E. 17 days; there were 8 days of brilliant, and 6 

 of partial, sunshine, and 1 6 days in which the atmosphere was clouded. There 

 was thunder, accompanied with showers, on the I3th, I4th, 15th, 17th, and 

 2 2d. 



On the 1st of July a heavy rain fell, amounting to '8 of an inch ; and, in 

 the short space of thirty-eight hours, not less than three inches fell on the 

 4th and 5th. The subsequent evaporation cooled the air near the earth's 

 surface, and considerably retarded the vegetative process. The atmosphere 

 was often cloudy, and the temperature often fell to 48° during the night 

 at 3 ft. above the earth's surface; and a thermometer lying on the grass 

 frequently indicated 8° lower. The sudden and copious supply of moisture 

 promoted an elongation of plant; but as the ear of many of the Gra- 

 mineas, and the flowers of other plants, had been nearly developed during 

 the long and severe drought, vegetation did not for some time seem so 

 backward as might have been inferred from the low temperature, under 

 ordinary circumstances. 



The Antirrhinum pfctum and majus (snapdragon) came in flower on the 

 2d of July, and the eggs which had been laid on the 22d of June were formed 

 into small yellow caterpillars in the space of 10 days; mean temperature 

 of that period 55-5°. The single white campanula (Campanula joersici- 

 folia) came in flower on the 6th ; and at that time the white cabbage-butter- 

 flies were first observed. It was the 7th before clover hay-cutting could 

 commence by reason of the rains. The ^enecio abrotanifolius was in flower 

 on the 8th. Oats at Annat Park, that brairded on the 28th of April (see 

 p. 285.), came in ear on the 1 1th, a period of 74 days; mean temperature 

 of that period 54*3°. The iychnis chalcedonica was in full flower on 

 the 1 1th ; quite as early as last year. 



On the 12th the wheat ears were covered with small black flies, the 

 same as -we erroneously supposed last year to have been produced by the 

 maggot (seep. 96.). This fly has a round head, but as far as we could dis- 



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