liv Proceedings. 
the preceding ten years; January, February, May, and December 
being the only months in which the rainfall has been above the 
average. There was not, however, any drought severe enough to 
damage vegetation, though there was a very destructive fire on Hayes 
Common during the dry weather. The temperature of the year was 
about half a degree above the average. 
January and February were wet and mild, but March was cold and 
dry. The dates of opening of the early spring flowers mentioned in 
the list of last year, except the very earliest, were some three or four 
weeks later than in the exceptionally forward spring of 1903. There 
was a good bloom on apple and other fruit trees, and an absence of 
destructive frosts in April and May, so that the fruit crop was excep- 
tionally abundant. The hay crop was also abundant and well made. 
The corn crop was fair, but that of hops failed in many places. 
May was wet, but June, July, and August were dry; July being a 
hot month. The autumn was dry and cold, with frequent fogs. The 
first frost to damage tender vegetation was on Oct. 15th; this affected 
especially the lower grounds, plants on higher levels being untouched. 
Fungi were fairly plentiful in September, but rather scarce later in 
the season. The number of plants remaining in flower was small ; 
and had the annual soirée been held at the usual time in November, 
but a poor show only could have been made as compared with that 
in 1903. 
Mr. J. E. Clark reports the following garden flowers in bloom on 
Christmas day (at Lile Garth, Ashburton Road) :—Three roses, chry- 
santhemum, viola (yellow), Christmas rose, yellow jasmine, polyan- 
thus, primrose, white knapweed. Ten species compared with nine 
last year. 
Mr. Mennell reports that he never remembers such a dearth of 
flowers at Christmas in his garden on Park Hill. A few pansies, 
laurustinus very sparingly, were the only flowers actually out on 
Christmas day. The Christmas rose (Helleborus niger) followed a 
few days later, and the female flowers of the hazel on New Year’s Day. 
Mr. J. E. Clark reports that during December he noted the follow- 
ing wild plants in bloom :—Ranunculus repens (buttercup), Veronica 
agrestis, Stellaria media (chickweed), Ulex ewropeus (gorse), Poten- 
tilla sp. (cinquefoil), Scabiosa sp., Matricaria inodora, Senecio vulgaris 
(groundsel), Bellis perennis (daisy), Taraxacum officinale (dandelion), 
Primula acaulis (primrose), Poa annua. 
The following circular, received from the South-Eastern Union of 
Scientific Societies, was referred to the Botanical Section :— 
*“Wintp PLANT PROTECTION. 
** The Council is desirous of eliciting information as to the danger of 
the extermination of wild flowering plants and ferns, and as to any 
means other than educational of checking the same. Will you there- 
iore kindly bring the matter before your Society at an early date, and 
inform the Council whether in the opinion of your Society— 
(1) Any particular species or groups which are in your district are 
in present danger of extermination. 
(2) If so, from what cause. 
(3) Whether your Society is of opinion that any legislative or other 
action should be taken to check such extermination.” 
