128 Mr Lindsay's Report on Open-Air Vegetation, [sess. li. 



April. — Dm-ing the month of April vegetation made 

 comparatively slow progress. Frost occurred much more 

 frequently than it has done for many years during the 

 same period. This, along with a succession of dry cold 

 easterly winds, prevented any very rapid growth from taking 

 place. 



The ground also was very dry, until the last week of 

 the month, when a moderate supply of rain fell. This did 

 much good in assisting deciduous trees and shrubs to de- 

 velop theu" leaves, but the temperature remained too cold 

 for plants generally deriving the full benefit of the rain. 

 The thermometer was at or below the freezing point on 

 fifteen nights ; collectively 58° of frost were registered for 

 the month, as against 15° for the corresponding month last 

 year. The lowest readings were — on the 5th, 24°; 10th, 

 24°; loth, 26°; l7th, 27°; 27th, 26°. The highest morn- 

 ing readings were — on the 2nd, 50°; 3rd, 50°; 17th, 50°; 

 22nd, 50°; 28th, 49°. The lowest day temperature was 

 44°, which occurred on the 5th, and the highest 62°, on the 

 l7th of the month. The total amount of frost registered 

 this season up to the end of April is 520°; for the same 

 period last season 632° were registered. The following is 

 the distribution for each month, viz., September, 3°; October, 

 1°; November, 17°; December, 174°; January, 91°; Feb- 

 ruary, 76°; March, 100°; and April, 58°. The lowest point 

 reached at the garden this season was 14° Fahr., or 18° of 

 frost, which occurred on 20th December last. 



[Table. 



