28 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



records of bright sunshine were not half of what 

 they were last year. Fruit on all our deciduous 

 trees was stunted-looking. Nothing amongst hardy 

 plants looked vigorous, except the very hardy herb- 

 aceous plants, and many of these were late to bloom. 

 The rainfall was very heavy. 



August was another dull, cold month, the meark 

 temperature being low throughout. The highest 

 reading in the shade during the day was 67°, the- 

 lowest 52°. The night temperature was also low, 

 having been frequently below 40°. On the corre- 

 sponding month last year we were lamenting over 

 the deficiency of rainfall, and the extent to which 

 hardy plants were suffering from the drought. The- 

 opposite is the case this year. Half-hardy plants- 

 made considerable growth, but the prospect of 

 obtaining cuttings sufficiently matured for propaga- 

 tion "was still poor. Owing to the frequent rains- 

 and spring-like weather many hardy shrubs pushed 

 second growth. The past summer will long be- 

 remembered for its low temperature, absence of sun- 

 heat, cold drenching rains, and the gloomy prospects- 

 felt generally regarding the ripening of cereal, root, 

 and fruit crops of all kinds. 



September was a fine month, and counteracted to 

 a large extent the worst forebodings of the back- 

 ward summer, for a finer autumn month has rarely 

 been known in this part of the covmtry. The rain- 

 fall was light and the temperature high. On the 

 14th 103° were registered in the sun. Dahlias, Helio- 

 trope, Pelargoniums, etc., were blooming as they 

 should have done in July and August. A better 

 supply of cuttings were secured than was expected, 

 but the good season came too late for the perfect 

 ripening of such seeds as we are accustomed tO" 

 save here. 



October, with the exception of the last six days^ 

 was a fine month, with the temperature above the 

 average, 50' to 60° being frequently registered in 

 the shade. The lowest night-reading was 30°, or 2"" 



