94 Mr. H. S. Eaton. — Meteorological Observations. 



latter especially to be black and withered by frost on the lower 

 ground weeks before they were touched on Park-hill — the 

 highest ground in Croydon. Again, landscape gardeners 

 would know where half-hardy shrubs and valuable ornamental 

 trees might be planted with the greatest chance of safety ; 

 many such plants, I am persuaded, would stand with impunity 

 the climate of Warlingham which would perish in some parts 

 of the Caterham-valley. 



But for help in this direction we must appeal to the botanists 

 of our Club. They would do good service by selecting from 

 the common plants indigenous to our district a list, to be 

 observed for their first appearance, their coming into flower, 

 and for the ripening of their fruit ; and the limits of the growth 

 of such plants might be defined with advantage. I do not 

 think that the common gorse will be found growing freely in 

 our valleys, though abundant on the downs ; if this be con- 

 firmed it would be interesting to learn whether it is not owing 

 to the greater cold which, as I have pointed out, sometimes pre- 

 vails in the former situation. I would, however, carefully 

 exclude any rare plant from the list, as that would ensure its 

 destruction by the hands of some ruthless collector. Finally, 

 the movements of migratory animals should form part of the 

 programme of our observations. 



I have yet one other suggestion to make, and that is that the 

 Croydon Microscopical and Natural History Club establish a 

 journal of its proceedings, to be published annually, and which 

 shall contain a summary of the observations in natural history 

 made by its members. 



I may remark in conclusion that there is an element of 

 uncertainity in meteorology which adds zest to its pursuit, 

 affording scope for the may-be of the poetic temperament as 

 well as the must-be of the scientific one, and that I never 

 knew any person once having taken to it who ever gave it up. 



