FKUITS, ETC., IN THE SOCIETY'S GARDEN, 1850. 151 



been well supported, and the trees would have suffered, so as to 

 be unable to bear well in the following season. 



September. — Mean temperature exactly 3 degrees below the 

 average. There were several frosty nights in the early part of 

 the month. With the exception of a slight drizzle on the 1st, 

 no rain fell till the 19th. The 21st was boisterous. Lightning 

 was seen on the evening of the 23rd. On the 27th there was 

 one peal of thunder with a very heavy shower about ^ past 



3 P.M. 



October. — The temperature of each of the two preceding 

 months was about 3 degrees below the average, but in this it was 

 6 degrees below. On the loth the thermometer was 8 degrees 

 below freezing, and it was a degree still lower on the 26th. 

 The amount of rain was fully an inch less than usual. Light- 

 ning was seen on the evening of the 9th. On the 20th there 

 was an exceedingly large halo round tlie moon. 



November. — S. W. winds were prevalent ; and the mean 

 temperature was between 1 and 2 degrees above the average. 

 The fii'st half of the month was generally very fine, with the 

 exception of the 4th, which was boisterous, with slight rain. 

 The 24th was also boisterous, and much rain fell on that day, 

 and likewise on the 18th. 



December. — The mean temperature was about 1^ degrees 

 below the average. Little more than an inch of rain fell. Fogs 

 were prevalent during the first half of the month. The 15th 

 was warmer at night than at any time throughout that day. 

 The 1 6th was boisterous, with rapid showers. 



XIV. — Som.e Notes on Fruits and Vegetables grown in the 

 Society'' s Garden in 1850. 



Cucumbers. 

 Australind. — Seeds, under this name, were sent to the Society 

 by M. Waller Clifton, Esq., Australind, Western Australia. 

 In the account by this gentleman of the fine climate of Aus- 

 tralind (Hort. Soe. Journal, Vol. IV. p. 203), he says, 

 " Cucumbers, melons, water-melons, and vegetable marrow, I 

 have actually in cart-loads from December to April." The 

 seeds came along with some " Australind melon-seeds, taken 

 from a fruit weighing 25i lbs." When this tribe of plants grows 

 in such profusion in the open air, infinite mixtures vnW take 

 place, unless extraordinary care is taken to keep them distinct ; 

 such care, in fact, as the founder of a new colony could scarcely 

 have it in his power in the first instance to bestow. The seeds 



