196 PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



of frost, as compared with 461 degrees on 87 days in 1880. The 

 average temperature for the year was 45°, as against 46° in the pre- 

 vious year. 



As regards the rainfall for 1881, the return is rather interesting. 

 During 1880 there were 224 dry days, and during 1881 205 dry 

 days. The total rainfall for 1880 was 32*09 inches, and for 1881 

 33 *30 inches. This shews an increase of 1 9 in the number of wet days, 

 but only an increase of 1*21 inches in the total rainfall. The latter 

 may seem somewhat small in comparison with the increase in the 

 number of wet days; but throughout June, July, August and 

 September, rain fell more or less every two or three days, though 

 it was more continuous than heavy. 



May was the only favourable month of the summer, and plants 

 bedded out in the various parks during it and June were in good 

 condition, and had a fair start. Continuous rains, however, and 

 want of sunshine during July and August, completely ruined them, 

 and instead of flowering many of them damped off and disappeared. 

 This was especially the case with violas, mignonette, and the 

 majority of annuals, and it cannot be said that any flowering plant 

 really did well. Foliage plants in the carpet beds, however, were 

 fresh and beautiful throughout the whole season, although the true 

 tints of their colours were not brought out from'want of sunshine. 

 In our variable and moist climate foliage plants are worthy of more 

 special attention. 



Trees and shrubs in spring and early summer flowered most pro- 

 fusely, consequent on the wood and buds beirg well ripened during 

 the fine summer and autumn of 1880. This was particularly 

 noticeable in the case of chestnuts, elms, limes, and planes. Many 

 of the more tender evergreens were killed, however, by the very 

 severe frosts in January ; and others, such as Portugal laurels, rhodo- 

 dendrons, and aucubas, were seriously injured. 



It is to be regretted that after such a gloomy retrospect the fore- 

 cast for the coming year is not much brighter. The past year has 

 left vegetation ill prepared to stand any sudden change, and the 

 open winter we are having is not improving matters. Spring is 

 prematurely coming upon us before winter is gone; and if a severe 

 check should come, as it very probably will come, in the months 

 of March and April, the outlook will be blacker still. But every 

 cloud has a silver lining, and we can only hope that this may in- 

 fluence the weather, and that, when another year comes round, our 

 forecast may for once have been wrong. 



