152 Report on Te7nperatures and Open-Air Vegetation. 



herbaceous plants came into flower during tLe month, 

 making a total of 193 since January 1, while at the same 

 (iate — the end of April — last year, 286 species were 

 recorded as having flowered. The lowest temperatures 

 were registered on the mornings of the 2nd, 31°; 4th, 30°; 

 6th, 30°; 7tlr, 31°; and the 26th, 29°. The highest read- 

 ings at 9 A.M. were on the 9th, 50°; 11th, 52°; 12th, 

 60°; 15th, 50°; and 26th, 51'. During the early part of 

 the month vegetation made fairly good progress ; westerly 

 winds were prevalent until the 19th. 



May. — Towards the commencement of this month, on 

 the 6th, 7th, 9th, and 12th, the thermometer was at or 

 below the freezing-point. East winds and occasional 

 showers of hail and sleet also left their marks on many 

 plants. Those which have suffered most were Roses, 

 Dielytra, Astilbe, Spiraea palmata. The young fronds of 

 Osmunda and Athyrium, which were well advanced, 

 completely blackened and destroyed ; even some species of 

 thorns had their leaves browned. The lowest readings 

 occurred on the 6th, 25° ; 7th, 30° ; 8th, 34° ; 9th, 32° ; 

 12th, 32° ; 17th, 33°. The highest morning readings were 

 on the 13th, 57° ; 14th, 57° ; 22nd, 58°; 24th, 56° ; 25th, 

 60° ; 29th, 58°. On the rock garden 243 species and 

 varieties of alpine and dwarf herbaceous plants came into 

 flower during the month, making a total of 446 for the 

 season, while at the same date — the end of May — last year 

 492 were recorded as having flowered. 



The show of hardy spring plants, though late, was very 

 fine, and well-developed foliage and abundance of flowers 

 were characteristic features of deciduous trees and shrubs 

 despite the unpromising spring. 



June. — The lowest readings of the thermometer during 

 themonth were— onthe4th, 40°; 5th, 39°; 8th, 35°; 16th, 

 40° ; 17th, 38° ; 21st, 38° ; while the highest morning 

 readings were — on the 3rd, 80°; 15tli, 60°; 23rd, 60°; 28th, 

 62°; 29th, 60°; 30th, 62°. The foliage of deciduous trees, 

 such as Plane, Lime, Oak, Service, Spanish and Horse 

 Chestnut, &c., were thoroughly developed and remarkably 

 clean and perfect, owing greatly to the scarcity of the 

 usual insect pests, such as aphis, caterpillars, red-spider. 

 Even Roses, which are peculiarly subject to attacks of 



