1888-89.] Mr Lindsay's Report on Open- Air Vegetation. 501 



very few had their leaves coloured, and, with the exception 

 of Pavia flava, Fyrus latifulia, Cornus mas, and Azalea 

 pontica, they have been much less interesting than usual. 

 Ehododendrons, Azaleas, and otlier ericaceous plants are more 

 sparsely set with flower-buds than I ever remember having 

 seen at this time of year. Want of heat and sunshine 

 during the growing period has doubtless brought about this 

 result. Hollies have produced an exceptional crop of berries 

 this season ; most other trees and shrubs are rather deficient 

 in fruit. On the rock-garden nineteen species of plants 

 came into flower during the month, the handsomest being 

 various species of Kniphofia, Helleborits, and Crocus: In con- 

 sequence of the fine dry weather experienced, a large number 

 of plants which came into flower during previous months 

 are still in good condition, among which Yucca gloriosa may 

 be mentioned. There were twenty-one dry days during the 

 month, and very rarely has the ground been so thoroughly 

 dry at the end of October. 



November. — The past month has been remarkable for the 

 extreme atmospheric mildness which prevailed ; very seldom 

 has there been so little frost to record during November. 

 As a set-off, storms of wind and rain have been unusually 

 frequent, which proved much more harmful than any 

 seasonable amount of frost could have been. The severe 

 gale on the 16th fortunately passed over without doing any 

 very serious damage to the garden, fuither than the loss of 

 one or two common trees. Broken branches were scattered 

 about in all directions, until it became rather alarming. 



The thermometer was at or below the freezing-point 

 on nine mornings, indicating collectively 20° of frost, as 

 against 49° for the corresponding month last year. The 

 lowest readings occurred on the 1st, 30°; 16th, 29°; 21st, 

 29°; 27th, 25°; 29th, 30'. The lowest day temperature 

 was 36°, on the 20th ; and the highest 57°, on the 25th. 

 Rain fell on seventeen days. 



Owing to the abnormal mildness, early spring-flowering 

 bulbous plants, such as species of Scilla, Narcissus, Iris, and 

 the like, are already far advanced in growth. Buds 

 are also starting into growth on Bibes, Syriiuja, Pyrus, 

 and other shrubs. At the close of the month fairly good 

 .summer Eoses were in flower, in conjunction with Christmas 



