12 TRANSACTIONS AND PROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. lv. 



OCTOBER. 



The month of October was changeable and unsettled, 

 but was a favourable month on the whole. The first 

 frost this season toolc place on the morning of the 2nd, 

 when the glass registered 32°. The thermometer was at or 

 below the freezing-point on eight occasions, indicating col- 

 lectively 19° of frost for the month. The lowest readings 

 were on the 19th, 30°; 20th, 30°; 26th, 29°; 27th, 29°; 

 28th, 23°. The lowest day reading was 42°, on the 27th, 

 and the highest, 68°, on the 12th. 



Herbaceous plants continued to flower in fine condition 

 till about the end of the month. The most effective were 

 the various species of Aster or Michaelmas Daisies, Helian- 

 thus, Eudbeckias, and other Compositfe, also Japanese 

 Anemones and Kniphofias. All tender plants, such as 

 Dahlias, Pelargoniums, Calceolarias, &c., were destroyed by 

 the severe frost on the 28th. 



Leaves of deciduous trees fell off early in the month, and, 

 as a rule, were not so well coloured as usual, many having 

 fallen off in a green state. Autumnal tints have been 

 much less interesting than usual this season, owing to the 

 poor summer we have experienced. Hardy Ehododendrons, 

 Azaleas, and Andromedas are well set with flower-buds for 

 next year. Holly and Hawthorn have an abundant supply 

 of fruit, in marked contrast to their barren condition last 

 year. Trees and shrubs generally have fruited well this 

 season. 



On the rock-garden twenty-three species came into flower 

 during October, as against thirteen for October 1889. The 

 total number which have flowered since January 1 to the 

 end of October is 1154 ; during the same period last year 

 1473 had flowered — a difference of 319, which must be 

 ascribed to the bad summer. 



Amongst the most cons]:)icuous in flower were : — IldU- 

 horus altifolius, Gentiana Kurroo, CaryopUris Mastacanthus, 

 Saxifraga Fortunei, Oxalis lobata, Hypericum cuneahim, 

 Gynerium arycnteum, Liatris odoratissimus, Nardostachys 

 Jatarnansi, Veronica chathamica, Crocus asturicics, C. annu- 

 l.af/iiH, C. medius, Schizosiylis coccinetts, Shuttlewortliia pid- 

 chella. &c. 



