Mr R. Lindsay's Report on Opcn-Air Veijetation. 227 



flowering most abundantly, and on walls Fynis Japonica, 

 Rihes sanffuineicm (single and double flowering), and 

 Forsijthia viridissima have not been so finely flowered for 

 some years back. ]\Iagnolias, double-flow^ering reach, and 

 other plants on walls are well set with flower-buds. Spring 

 flowering bulbs are vigorous, and flowering well, notwith- 

 standing their lateness in opening ; cold east winds are 

 shortening tlieir period oi" flow^eriug considerably, which a 

 few genial showers of rain would do much to prevent. 

 The season has been most favourable for seed sowing, the 

 ground being in splendid condition for that purpose. The 

 extremely dry state of the ground causing a scarcity of 

 worms is probably the reason why the various birds which 

 abound in the Botanic Garden are so assiduously stripping 

 the flowers of Crocuses and Primroses as soon as they 

 expand in some portions of the garden. Formerly their 

 depredations were mainly confined to newly-sown seeds, 

 Holly berries, and the like ; as there are abundance both of 

 seeds and berries, their preference for a floral diet seems 

 all the more remarkable. 



On the rock garden a large number of plants is r\o\\ in 

 flower. Sixty-five species came into bloom during March, 

 exclusive of those which opened in the previous month, 

 many of which are still flowering. Among the most 

 interesting which opened in March were the following: — 



Cliionodoxa Lucillire. E'arcissus pumilus. 



„ sardensis. Pusclikinia scilloides. 



Crocus nevadensis. Primula niarginata. 

 Corbularia nivalis. „ ciliata purpurata. 



llelleborus colcliicus, ,, Wulfeniana. 



Iris reticulata. Ehododendron pnecox. 

 Korolkowia Sewerzowi. &c. &c. 



Of the forty spring-flowering plants whose dates of 

 flowering are annually recorded to the Society, seventeen 

 came into flower during the month. 



