Iteport on Temperatures (md Open-Air Vegetation. 157 



previous month was well maintained. The lowest readings 

 of the thermometer occurred on the 2nd, 30°; 3rd, 28°; 8th, 

 25°; 19th, 30°; 29tli, 25°. The highest morning read- 

 ings were on the 4th, 49° ; 5th, 48° ; ^9th, 47° ; 12th, 48° ; 

 13t]i, 48°. Comparatively little rain or snow fell, and the 

 weather was favourable throughout for gardening work. 

 On the morning of the 21st another severe storm of wind 

 from the south-west occurred, rivalling that of the previous 

 month in the amount of damage done throughout the 

 country. Fortunately, the Botanic Garden again escaped 

 almost unscathed. The mild and open nature of the season 

 throughout brought vegetation very rapidly forward, both 

 foliage and flower being in advance of that of recent j'ears : 

 XuttalUa ccrasiformis was in flower on the 10th, Eihes 

 sanguine^im on the 21st, being fully a month later than last 

 season. Forty-one species and varieties of plants came 

 into flower on the rock garden during the month. B}' the 

 end of the month no less than ninety diS'erent species were 

 in flower, including those which opened on previous months, 

 thus giving quite a showy appearance to the rock garden 

 much earlier than usual. Of the forty plants whose dates 

 of flowering are annually recorded seventeen came into 

 flower during the month of February. 



March. — The month of March has been very mild com- 

 pared with that of last year, still it has been the most 

 severe of any month during this unprecedentedly mild 

 season. The thermometer was at or below the freezing- 

 point on twelve nights. The lowest readin2:s occurred on 

 the 3rd, 28° ; 11th, 27° ; 22nd, 29° ; 24th, 28° ; 26th, 27° ; 

 the highest morning readings ranging from 47° to 53°. 

 Thorns were in full leaf at the end of the month ; Poplar, 

 Lilac, Horse Chestnut and Maple being far advanced. 

 Magnolia conspicua and purpurea^ which last year at this 

 date were in full flower, are not yet expanded. These 

 plants are trained on south walls. Their lateness in 

 flowering can only be accounted for by their wood being 

 insufiiciently ripened last summer and autumn. To the 

 same cause may be attributed the lateness and poor 

 condition of several other flowering plants on walls, 

 notably Pruniis triloha. Of the forty spring-flowering 

 plants whose dates of flowering are annually recorded, six 



