602 THANSACTIOXS AND TROCEEDINGS OF THE [Sess. Lvir. 



effect he is inclined to ascribe to the grass intercepting the 

 moisture and nourishment which would otherwise go to 

 the roots of the pear trees ; but the efiect of turning up 

 the soil has also to be considered. 



The following paper was read : — ■ 



On Tempekatuke and Vegetation in the IiOyal Botanic 

 Gakden, Edinburgh, during the month of April 1893. 

 By Egbert Lindsay, Curator of the Garden. 



The past month of April has been one of the most 

 favourable on record. Seldom has there been so little frost 

 and so much sunshine during April, the only drawback has 

 been the want of rain. Vegetation generally has made 

 very rapid progress. The foliage of deciduous trees and 

 shrubs is remarkably luxuriant, notwithstanding the lack of 

 moisture : fortunately, drying winds have been less frequent 

 than usual. The flowering of ornamental trees and shrubs 

 is considerably above the average. Apple, pear, single 

 and double cherry, currants and barberries being quite 

 smothered with blossom. The thermometer was below the 

 freezing point on four occasions, registering in all 12° of 

 frost for the month, as against 72^ for the corresponding 

 month of last year. The lowest readings occurred on the 

 4th, 31°; 10th, 27°; 12th, 27°; 14th, :',1°. The lowest 

 day temperature was 44° on the 16th, and the highest 6<S° 

 on the 20th. 



The collective amount of frost registered this season 

 up to the end of April is r»17°, as ngainst 620° for the 

 same period last year. The following is tlie distribution 

 for each month: — October, 44' of frost; November, 41°; 

 December, 102°; January, 100°; Fel)2-uary, 64°; March, 

 64"; April, 12". The lowest point reached this season was 

 yaliT-., or 'I'o of frost, wliicli occurred on the 6th of 

 January. 



On the idck-gaidfiu 160 species and varieties came 

 into ilower during the month, as against 119 for April 

 of last year. Among the more interesting were : — Anaiwne 

 Rohinsoniana, Arnehia ec/iioides, Asarv.m caudalnrn, Androsace 

 coro'/iopifoliurii, Avhru'/ia Ilnidcr^ioni, A. LcicltUini, Bryan- 



