1887-88.] Mr Lindsay's Report on Open- Air Vegetation. 335 



more or less on sixteen days ; no serious storms were ex- 

 perienced, and very little snow having fallen, outdoor work 

 was not much interfered with. During the first week of the 

 month the few remaining leaves of deciduous trees and 

 shrubs were all cleared off. Outdoor vegetation is now, as 

 nearly as possible, in a dormant condition. Few plants are 

 in flower in good condition, with the exception of Jasminum 

 nudiflorum, Helleboms altifolius, Schizostylis coccinea, Stern- 

 hergia hifea, and the winter flowering variety of Daphne 

 Mezereum. Berry-bearing plants, particularly Yew and 

 Holly, are fast becoming stripped of their berries by 

 birds — much earlier in the season than usual, although the 

 ground has been fairly open. The past season has prob- 

 ably rendered the berries more palatable as food to the 

 birds than they usually are, at all events they are dis- 

 appearing so rapidly that in a short time very few will be 

 left. 



The following plants came into flower on the Eock 

 Garden, viz.: — Parochcetus communis, Gynerium argcnteum, 

 Sternbergia lutca, Plumbago Larpenta:. 



A good many stray blossoms are still to be seen on 

 such plants as Lithospermum prostratuvi, Veronica riipestris, 

 various Aubrietias, Heaths, and Wallflowers. In the absence 

 of very severe frost, late flowers of these varieties are usually 

 to be had at this season. 



December. — The thermometer was at or below the freezing 

 point on twenty-four occasions during the month, indicating 

 collectively 132° of frost for the mouth, as against 174° for 

 the corresponding month of 1886. The lowest readings 

 occurred on the 10th, 22°; 11th, 21°; 25th, 20°; 27th, 22°; 

 31st, 22°. The lowest day temperature was 30°, on the 11th, 

 and the highest 52°, on the 3rd. Eain, sleet, or snow fell 

 more or less on thirteen days. Only one plant came into 

 flower on the Eock Garden during December, viz., Tussilago 

 fragrans. The total number of species and well marked 

 varieties which have thus flowered during the past year, 

 amounts to 1408 as against 1165 for the preceding year. A 

 record has been kept showing the date when each plant was 

 first observed in flower. The largest number came into 

 flower during the months of ]\lay and June, viz., 326 and 

 432 respectively. 



