98 PHENOLOGICAL OBSERVATIONS, CANADA, 1898.—MACKAY, 
An interesting irregularity in the phenochrons of the 
different counties is shown in nearly every part of this table. 
Their order is not parallel in the different counties. Very often 
it is reversed. As the phenochrons are averages of ten observa- 
tions, it cannot be laid altogether to the charge of defective 
observation. The rarity of certain species in certain counties, 
or in the districts in which the observations were made, tends 
to make the phenochron later there, for the plants may be in 
flower before they are met with. But the character of the soil, 
the elevation, the slope, &c., must have had some influence. 
And then, may it not be possible that the same species may 
develop a tendency to an earlier or later maturing in different 
regions ? These are questions which careful future observations 
may help to answer. 
To illustrate the effect of asymmetry of stations on the 
phenochrons of a large district of country, I select five of the 
best observed plants, giving first their phenochrons for a period 
of seven years, 1892 to 1898, based on the few irregularly dis- 
tributed stations of the Botanical Club of Canada; secondly 
their phenochrons for the year 1898, based on the observations 
made at the eight stations, Berwick, Windsor, Musquodoboit, 
Wallace, Pictou, New Glasgow and Port Hawkesbury; and 
giving, thirdly, their phenochrons derived from 180 stations, ten 
in each of the eighteen counties of the province, observed in 
connection with the public schools of the province. 
Seven Year Phenochrons Phenochrons = 
First Flowering of the | Phenochrons,— for 1898, — for 1898,— 
Bot. Club. Bot. Club. 180 Schools. 
Mayflower 524-1.) 103.0 93.1 Wert 0 
Maple ..2hoapeeceeme as: 125.0 121.8 126.0 
Stra wDerayesee cee: 129.1 125.7 125.3 
Amelanchier .. 142.6 140.7 140.9 | 
Lilac Be eaecencoeeone 155.3 155.1 159.2 
General Phenochrons 131.0 127.3 129.7 
