22 
I have little faith in weather cycles but I have great faith in 
weather averages, and it would be against all experience to have 
four severe winters in succession. I call that a severe winter for 
the garden when there is much skating ; for skating requires a 
continuous frost and very little snow; and it is a continued frost 
that works mischief in the garden, especially if there are high 
winds and no snow. Iam sure that a fortnight of cold weather 
with the thermometer at 25° is more destructive to plant life 
than two or three nights with the thermometer at 15° or even 10°. 
Certainly it is so if the ground is fortunately covered with snow 
during the lower temperature. But all this is literally in nubibus, 
and there we must leave it ; but whether the winter is severe or not 
it is quite certain that the long, hot summer has added much vital 
strength to all plants. There was during the autumn a formation 
in many cases of sappy shoots, which will probably be cut off 
even if the winter is mild, but the main life of the plant will be 
safe. And from all present appearances next year will be a good 
year for flowers and fruit. We can gather that from the few 
which show the promise of next year; such as the Pyrus Japonica 
and the early Magnolias which are full of flower buds, the hazels 
which are covered with catkins, and the pears and peaches which 
are well provided with plump fruit buds. And I should expect 
nearly all bulbous plants to flower well next year; for most 
bulbs rejoice in a good roasting when dormant, and that they have 
certainly had this year. 
And so I bring my paper to a close. Much might be said 
on the agricultural aspects of the year, but that is outside the 
limits of this paper. Much also of interest might be said on 
the effects of the summer on animals, birds and insects, and 
some of that I hope will be told us by some other member 
of the Club more competent to do so than I am. My work 
was limited to the weather and the garden, and on these two 
points there can be but one conclusion. The year has been 
indeed an annus mirabilis, a year which our children and grand- 
