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DROUGHT AND STORM DAMAGE 



The severe drought of twelve weeks, extending from about 

 April 1, was broken on the afternoon of June 26 by a heavy 

 thunderstorm, with only slight precipitation (0.29 inch), but with 

 a gale that apparently centered over the Botanic Garden and ad- 

 jacent Prospect Park, working great damage to vegetation. Three 

 of the largest trees in the Garden, oriental planes, standing on the 

 crest of the hill south of the lake, were uprooted and blown over. 

 Their age, based on the rings of growth, was 25-30 years. Their 

 loss is particularly regrettable, as the Botanic Garden has only a 

 very small number of large trees. 



A large Carolina poplar, a foot or more in diameter, situated 

 north of the local flora section, had its trunk snapped off at a 

 height of about 20 feet from the ground. Two Norway maples, 

 part of the avenue planting along Flatbush Avenue, were blown 

 over. A small but beautiful tree of Robinia Pseudo-acacia var. 

 Rehderi (a dwarf round-topped form of the common locust), 

 which had been weakened bv borers, had almost every one of its 

 branches whipped off. One of the weeping willows overhanging 

 the drum bridge in the Japanese Garden was toppled over, but this 

 it was possible to straighten and support with guy wires. Its 

 companion tree was badly damaged by the breaking of branches. 



Amongst herbaceous plants the worst sufferers were the hardy 

 water lilies, as the hail, which accompanied the wind, perforated 

 almost every leaf. Before the storm these lilies were at their best. 

 Idle newly set-out cannas and bananas had their leaves ripped to 

 shreds by hail and wind. 



The bamboo poles on the ridge of the Tea House in the Japa- 

 nese Garden were blown off, as were also about 30 tiles from the 

 roof of the Laboratory Building. Several additional tiles were 

 broken by the falling of a stone ball ornament which was blown 

 off the cupola. 



Fourteen panes of glass in the Conservatories were broken by 

 the hail and wind. 



The severity of the drought is indicated by the precipitation 

 figures of the U. S. Weather Bureau. The normal precipitation 

 for the three months April, May, and June (based on records for 



