16 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
Meteorological Notes, and Remarks upon the Weather 
during the year 1893, with its General Effects 
upon Vegetation. By James Wuirton, Superintendent of 
Parks, Glasgow. ‘ 
[Read 24th April, 1894. ] 
THE hope expressed by my predecessor, Mr. M‘Lellan, in the 
closing paragraphs of his Report on the Weather for 1892, has 
been amply fulfilled. While 1892 was chiefly remarkable for a 
long series of low temperatures, with an average rainfall, the 
weather of 1893 has been characterised by a continuous higher 
range of temperature and a rainfall somewhat similar in amount. 
Another striking feature of 1893 was the comparative absence of 
spring frosts, so that vegetation, which started early, received no 
check ; and, the season being so favourable all through, there has 
been a luxuriance in the growth of trees and shrubs such as is now 
rarely experienced in or about the City, with its ever-increasing 
volumes of smoke and deleterious vapours, so inimical to plant 
life, 
January.—The wintry weather which prevailed during Decem- 
ber, 1892, continued during the first week of the year, when, 
with about 4 inches of snow on the ground, there was intensely 
hard frost. On the 6th, 22° frost were registered, which proved 
to be the lowest reading of the year. A thaw, accompanied by 
high winds, which lasted three days, set in on the 8th, and caused 
the snow to disappear rapidly. The wind having veered to north- 
east, the weather got colder, and hard frost was experienced from 
11th to 16th, with a fall of snow on 14th. With south-westerly 
winds from 16th to end of month, the weather was open and 
comparatively mild, which caused spring flowering plants to grow 
rapidly. In the Queen’s Park, Christmas roses (Helleborus niger) 
were plentifully in bloom by 20th. The highest (day) temperature 
was 51° on the 23rd, and the lowest at night 10° on the 6th. 
The thermometer was at or below freezing point (32°) on fifteen 
