78 



J. J. WILLIS — NATimALISX S CALEKDAE 



Northamptonshire on the 1st of November was seen a field of 

 wheat in shocks, and with a portion still remaining to be cut. 

 Potato disease appeared in a most virulent form. 



This year the daffodil was 26 days later in blooming than in the 

 preceding year (1878), the willow 11 days, the snowckop 16 days, 

 the wych elm 27 days, and the ivy -leaved veronica 24 days later. 

 In fact wild flowers were particularly shy of coming into bloom. 

 And so bitterly cold was the beginning of May that young birds 

 were found frozen La their nests, and the blossoms fell from the 

 gooseberry bushes. 



In order to convey some idea of the backwardness of the season, 

 I append a table of some well-known wild plants, showing the 

 time of flowering at Harpenden in the month of May, 1879, and 

 the dates in the preceding year. 



Thus we have shown in this short list a mean difference of 33 

 days between the seasons of 1878 and 1879, and it may be stated 

 that seldom within the memory of the oldest person amongst us 

 could a season more backward be remembered. 



1882, a Season of Early Records. — January was excessively warm 

 and dry, vegetation was very forward, and wild flowers were par- 

 ticularly early ; indeed from November, 1881, to the end of March, 

 1882, the weather may be described as ha-ving been most favoui'able 

 for all out-door crops; and rooks took advantage of its unusual 

 mildness to commence nesting several days in advance of their 

 usual time. April was generally warm until towards the end of 

 the month, with more than an average rainfall. May, except 

 during one week at the commencement, was a warm and "growing" 

 month, and the rainfall was less than the average. June was cold 

 and unseasonable throughout, with an excess of rain which seriously 

 damaged the luxuriant crops of hay. July was cold, wet, and 

 ungenial, and this weather, following upon a cold and wet June, 

 greatly interfered with the ripening of cereal crops, and caused a 

 prevalence of potato disease. But at harvest, taking the crops 



