Mr Lindsay's Report on Open-Air Vegetation, 407 



temperature was 27°, on the 10th of the month ; and the 

 highest was 54°, on the 16th. So far very little injury 

 has been done by frost, comparatively tender plants being 

 still uninjured in the open. 



The following seven species came into flower during 

 the month on the Kock Garden, viz., Dondia Epipactis, 

 Heimtica triloba, Helleho7nis niger, H. niger angusti/olius, 

 H. torquatuSj H. pwyurascens, and H. orientalis. The 

 total number of species and well-marked varieties, chiefly 

 of herbaceous and alpine plants, which have flowered in the 

 Rock Garden during the past year amounts to 1141. A 

 record has been kept showing the date when each plant 

 opened its first flower. This is the largest number which 

 has flowered on the Rock Garden in one year, being twenty 

 in excess of 1884. This result has been attained more by 

 new plants being added to the collection from various 

 sources than by any favourable circumstances connected 

 with the weather of the past year, which was by no means 

 conducive to the formation of flower-buds generally. 

 Usually the largest number of plants bloomed during the 

 months of May and June, but last year by far the greater 

 proportion flowered during June and July, owing to the 

 very cold weather experienced during May. 



January 1886. — The month of January 1886 has not 

 been exceeded in severity by any month since December 

 1882. After the first three days, which were mild and 

 genial, there followed a succession of severe frosts and 

 snowstorms till the end of the month, unbroken save by an 

 occasional flash of lightning or hailstorm, as if added to 

 relieve the monotony. Several very low readings of the 

 thermometer were registered. The lowest occurred on the 

 19th, when the glass fell to 8°, or 24° of frost, being the 

 lowest point reached at the garden since December 15, 

 1882, when 4° lower was registered. Other low readings 

 occurred on the 7th, 17°; 8th, 15°; 10th, 21°; 20th, 12°. 

 Collectivel}^ 158° of frost were registered for the month, as 

 against 72° for the corresponding month last year. The 

 highest morning readings were on the 1st, 50°; 3rd, 44°; 

 11th, 33°; 15th, 37°; 29th, 38°. The lowest day tempera- 

 ture was 28°, which occurred on the 19th, and the highest 

 52°, on the 1st. Snow began to fall on the 5th; a very 



