1888-89.] Mr Lindsay's Report on Open- Air Vegetation. 503 



24°; 22nd, 25°; 27th, 21°. The lowest day temperature 

 was 36°, on the 2nd; and the highest 56°, on the 18th. On 

 the rock-garden twenty species and varieties came into 

 flower, amongst which were Andi^omeda jiorihunda, Crocus 

 Iniperati, C. hyzantinus, Hepcttica angulosa, H. triloha, Helle- 

 borus angustifolius, H. purpurascens. Poly gala Chamwhuxus, 

 and its variety purpurea, &c. Considering the mild weather 

 which has prevailed, not so many plants are in flower as 

 might have been expected. Those which have flowered are 

 below the average in quality. This is particularly noticeable 

 on various species of HeUehm^us. The coldness of the past 

 summer seems to have had an injurious effect on herbaceous 

 plants. Of the forty plants whose dates of flowering are 

 annually recorded to the Society, the following came into 

 flower during the month, viz.: — Dondia Epipadis on January 

 3rd; Tussilago fragrans, 11th; Wiododendronatrovirens, 17th.; 

 Daphne Mczereuin, 26th ; Galanthus plicatus, 26th ; Lcucoium 

 vernum, 30th ; Galanthus nivalis, 31st. 



February. — During the month the thermometer was at 

 or below the freezing-point on twenty mornings, indicating 

 collectively 103° of frost, as against 121° for the correspond- 

 ing month last year. The lowest readings were on the 

 10th, 18°; 11th, 18°; 12th, 20° ; 16th, 24°; and 24th, 24°. 

 The lowest day temperature was 33° on the 9th, and the 

 highest 55° on the 1st of the month. Slight falls of snow 

 occurred on seven days and rain on four days. A good 

 many spring plants have come into blossom, but vegetation 

 generally is making slow progress. There is no perceptible 

 change on the buds of deciduous trees. A few hardy shrubs 

 are fairly well advanced, such as species of B,\hes, Crataegus, 

 and Nuttallia. Flowers of Rhododendron prcecox and Noble- 

 anum were injured by the fi'ost on the 10th, but, so far, 

 extremely little injury has been done by frost this winter ; 

 many half hardy plants are still quite safe in the open 

 borders without protection of any kind having been afforded 

 them. The following spring plants, annually recorded, came 

 into flower, viz. : — Scilla prmcox, on February 1 ; 8. sibirica 

 on Feb. 3 ; Eranthis hyemalis, on Feb. 3 ; Rhododendron 

 Nobleanum, on Feb, 6 ; Tussilago alba, on Feb. 14 ; Crocus 

 Susianus, on Feb. ] 4 ; Bulbocodium vernum, on Feb. 18 ; 

 Sisyrinchiuni grandiflorum, on Feb. 20 ; CoryliLs Avcllana, 



