Mr Lindsay's Report on Open-Air Vegetation. 405 



helow the freezing x^oint on four nights, indicating collec- 

 tively 20° of frost. The lowest readings occurred on the 

 11th, 26°; 12th, 27°; 23rd, 32°; 25th, 23°; 30th, 34°. 

 The highest morning readings were on the 2nd, 51°; 

 3rd, 49°; 7th, 50°; 16th, 48°. The lowest day temperature 

 was 42° on the 22nd, and the highest 58° on the 2nd of 

 the month. There were ten days when no rain fell, and 

 although there was more or less rain during the remaining 

 twenty-one days, plants, such as Rhododendrons, which 

 were growing underneath trees in various parts of the 

 garden, were suffering from drought until the last week of 

 the month. Autumn tints were very fine, but of short 

 duration, on various trees and shrubs. The brightest and 

 best coloured of all were the different forms of hardy 

 Azaleas, some of their leaves showing rich crimson shades, 

 others brown and yellow. Maples, Oaks, Beech, Pyrus, 

 Berberis, Liquidambar, and Tulip tree have also had finely 

 coloured leaves. The brown hues which some Conifers 

 assume at this season of the year have been most con- 

 spicuous on Thuia aurea and elegantissima. Fruit is 

 abundant on Holly, Cotoneaster, Thorn, Yew, Euonymus, 

 and Gaultheria. Late-flowering herbaceous plants have 

 been very well flowered, and many are yet in good con- 

 dition, amongst the best being Tritomas, Asters, Chrysan- 

 themums, Hellchorus alti/olius, and autumn-flowering 

 species of Crocus. 



On the Rock Garden the following species came into 

 bloom during the month, viz. : — Crocus hyzantinus, C. 

 medius, (Enothera acauh's, Mutisia decurrens, Polygala 

 charncebuxus purpurea, Hepatica triloha alha. From January 

 1 till the end of October 1133 species of hardy plants, in- 

 cluding well-marked varieties, have flowered on the Rock 

 Garden. At the same date last year 1112 had flowered. 



November. — The past month of November has been gene- 

 rally dry and cold. A series of low readings of the ther- 

 mometer were registered from the 15th till the 19th of the 

 month. Since then open-air vegetation has gradually 

 declined, and at the end of the month had nearly reached 

 its lowest ebb. On nine occasions the thermometer fell 

 below the freezing point, indicating collectively 65° of frost, 

 as against 64° for the corresponding month last year. The 



