I 



]\Ir R. Bullen's Report on Temperature and Vegetation. 235 



28th. Owing to the untoward weather, vegetation has 

 been considerably retarded ; the leaves of some hardy trees, 

 such as tlie Horse Chestnut and Bird Cherry, have a 

 blighted look. Late- leafing trees, as well as hardy herb- 

 aceous plants, are slightly in advance of last year. Late- 

 sown annuals have germinated freely. Deciduous trees 

 and shrubs of all kinds are blooming freely, and there is 

 every prospect of a good fruit season. 



June. — The temperature has been low, 36 having been 

 registered several times in the latter as well as in the early 

 part of the mouth, and frequently the temperature did 

 not exceed 40°. The lowest day reading was 58°, the 

 highest 78°. The weather has been very dry ; bright 

 sunny days have been general ; the few slight showers 

 which have fallen have been of little benefit to vegetation, 

 and most garden and farm crops are suffering. Spring- 

 sown seed, particularly those of annuals, promised well, 

 but being kept alive by artificial watering have made 

 little progress ; indeed, all half-hardy plants have a 

 stunted look. Hardy trees and shrubs of all kinds have 

 been prolific of bloom, but owing to the occasional cold 

 nights and dry days the foliage is not so healthy as usual. 

 Hardy herbaceous plants are mostly early in bloom. 



Notes on the Vegetation and Vegetable Products of Blantyre 

 and Zomba Districts of Africa. By John Buchanan, 



Associate.* 



(Read May 14, 1885.) 



From Quilimaue up the Zambesi Flowering Plants. 



and Shire to Katungas near to Economic Plants. 



the Murchison Rapids. Soil of the District. 



Blantyre and Zomba. Native Crops. 

 Trees producing Fruit. 



Quilimane and aroundit. — The town of Quilimane is built 

 close to the Eiver Kwakwa or Quilimane, on its left bank, 

 and only a few feet above high water mark ; so at full 

 tide the banks of the ditches which traverse the streets, 

 receive a fresh watering of mud, as their odoriferous con- 

 tents are thus periodically dammed back. The great marsh 



* See also The Shiri HiijJi lands (East Central Africa) as Colony and Mission. 

 By John Buchanan, planter at Zomba. Edinburgh and London : William 

 Blackwood & Sons. 



