Nov. 1899. J BOTANICAL SOCIETY OF EDINBURGH 253 



decreasing growth, culminating in 1898, the worst year 

 for growth out of the fourteen. That year the rainfall 

 was slightly deficient in both seasons, and there was a 

 great excess of sunshine in the growing season ; in the 

 sleeping season, the temperature was below normal. In 

 the previous year (1892) the growth was nearly as bad, 

 and the deficiency of rain was more than four times 

 as much as in the worst year of growth (1893). The 

 temperature in both seasons was higher than in 1893, 

 but had a low mean of minima in the sleeping season ; 

 and the sunshine, in excess in the growing season, was 

 particularly abundant in the sleeping season. 



The growths of 1891 and 1894 are nearly equal, so 

 are the thermometer readings, except that the sleeping 

 season of 1891 was decidedly warmer than that of 189-4. 

 There was also a surplusage of rain in the 1891 sleeping 

 season: and in the growing season, half as much sun 

 in 1891 as in 1894. 



This mav be tabulated as follows : — 



Rainfall 

 Sunshine . 

 Temperature 



The circles mean comparative equality; 1891 gets the 

 plus marks for rain and temperature in the sleeping 

 season, and 1894 the plus mark for sunshine in the 

 growing season. 



Perhaps this little table points out that rain is the 

 most potent factor in the growth of evergreens ; though, 

 indeed, perhaps no proof of this is wanted. In the nine- 

 year period, the evergreens achieve 51*5 per cent, of their 

 growth in the growing season, and 48'5 per cent, in the 

 sleeping season. Now the year 1891 shows a plus quantity 

 of rain in the sleeping season, and the growth of evergreens 

 that year occurred as follows : — 



Growing Season. Sleeping Season. 



Millimetres. Millimetres. 



2 Gum Trees . 82 90 



2 Pines . . 47 68 



2 Blackwoods .43 42 ' 



172 = 46-2 per cent. 200 =53-8 per cent. 



