CORNISH PHENOLOGY, 1912—1919 



FRANK H. PERRYCOSTE, B.Sc, and HONOR M. M. PERRYCOSTE 



There is no need to emphasise the importance of systematised 

 phenological records as indices to what one may perhaps call 

 resultant cHmate ; or to point out that the nett effect of tem- 

 perature, rainfall, latitude, elevation, exposure, etc., is summed 

 up in, e.g., the dates of flowering of plants without any ambi- 

 guity or possibility of error. 



We understand that recently the Meteorological Society 

 has made a special effort to increase the number of its 

 phenological stations and to secure additional observers of 

 the dates of flowering of a dozen or two plants under fairly 

 rigid conditions. The objects of this article are (i) to illus- 

 trate the phenology of this part of Cornwall ^ during the last 

 eight years by observations made under somewhat different 

 conditions ; and (2) to indicate the existence of a considerable 

 mass of observations covering some twenty years in all parts 

 of the country, and to show that these comprise very valuable 

 phenological data which should be secured and worked up 

 before they be destroyed — if indeed many have not already 

 been destroyed. 



There has existed for many years a certain " Wild Flower 

 Society," the members of which, divided into some twenty 

 branches, keep diaries of the dates of flowering of all the wild 

 flowers they can find, and compete for first place in the branch. 

 Since one mark is given for each flower found, but two marks 

 for the earliest record (in each branch) of every flower ; and 

 since the coveted first place is won, not necessarily by the 

 member who finds the largest number of flowers in the year, 

 but sometimes by one who has found fewer flowers but has 

 earned more "early marks"; the competition among the 

 real enthusiasts is very keen : and the sequel will prove that 

 this " early marks " system has resulted in the accumulation 

 of records which have indubitable phenological value and 

 should certainly be utilised. 



The differences in character between the records at present 

 demanded by the Meteorological Society and those available 

 in the diaries of the Wild Flower Society are these : the 

 ' I.e. Polperro, 20 miles west of Plymouth. 



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