168 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 



frosts in January, vegetation was easily excited; therefore, with 

 the open, mild, moist weather of February and March, trees and 

 shrubs began to expand their buds, and growth was fairly well 

 advanced on many plants when the disastrous frosts occurred 

 dm-ing the middle days of April. These frosts completely 

 ruined the fruit crop on aU trees and bushes which happened 

 to be in bloom at the time, and seriously crippled the growth 

 of many species of trees and shrubs. Rarely has so much 

 damage been experienced in orchards and nursery gardens as 

 that caused by the frosts alluded to. On account of the 

 saturated state of the ground, great difficulty was experienced 

 in getting crops planted in a satisfactory condition. Seeds 

 genninated slowly, and, owing to the want of atmospheric 

 warmth, growth throughout was indifferent and slow, especially 

 on heavy soils. Crops ripened slowly, and harvesting opera- 

 tions, owing to the wet, changeable weather, were performed 

 under most unwonted difficulties, witli extremely unsatisfactoiy 

 results. Apart from the damage done to those subjects which 

 naturally start early into gi'owth, and which were crippled for 

 the season, established trees and shrubs, which were later in 

 starting, made a fairly good gi'owth, and flower buds are more 

 in evidence on these than they were at the end of the previous 

 year. Recently transplanted trees and shrubs, however, made 

 a less satisfactory growth, and the loss of young plants in 

 nursery lines was considerably above the average. 



WliUe there is no gainsaying the fact that a season in which 

 bright sunshine predominates is conducive to much pleasure 

 and enjoyment of life, as well as of great benefit to vegetation, 

 it is interesting to note that the health of the community, 

 judging from the comparative immunity from zymotic diseases 

 and the low death - rate, was not affected adversely by the 

 atmospheric conditions. The heavy rains doubtless carried 

 down many noxious impurities from the murky pall which too 

 frequently overhangs our busy manufacturing city, and also 

 washed away impurities of a different nature, which in a hot 

 season would have bred many undesirable evils to health. 



Subjoined is the abstract of the meteorological record for the 

 past three years, as kept at Queen's Park, and the averages for 

 the past twelve years. 



