506 Mr Lindsay's Report on Open- Air Vegetation, [sess. lih. 



ally beneficial. For newly-transplauted trees and shrubs 

 the weather has been all that could be desired. 



The thermometer was at or below the freezing-point on 

 six mornings ; the total amount of frost registered was 6°, as 

 against 58° for April 1888. The lowest readings were, on 

 tiie 2nd, 30°; 3rd, 29°; 15th, 31°; and on the 4th, 9th, and 

 15th, 32" respectively. The lowest day temperature was 

 41°, on the 4th; and the highest 67°, on the 17th. 



The collective amount of frost registered this season up to 

 the end of April is "342°, as against 589° for the same period 

 last year. The following is the distributions for each 

 month: — October, 9° of frost; November, 20°; December, 

 57°; January, 57°; February, 103°; March, 90°; April, 6°; 

 total, 342°. Tbe lowest point reached this season was 16° 

 Fahr., which occurred on IMarch 4. 



On the rock-garden 134 species and varieties of plants 

 came into flower during the month. 



Of the forty spring-flowering plants, annually recorded 

 to sliow their periods of flowering, five came into flower, 

 thus completing the list, viz.: — Adonis vernalis on April 6, 

 Narcissus Pseudo-Narcissus on April 7, Auhrietia yrandijiora 

 on April 16, Symphytum caucasicum on April 16, Fritillaria 

 impcricdis on Apiil 30. 



May. — This mouth was one of the most favourable 

 experienced for many years, and no frost occurred during 

 the month. This seldom happens in May, as frost has been 

 registered more or less every year since 1882. Vegetation 

 made rapid progress, and in the absence of frost or severe 

 winds has gone on advancing witliout check of any kind. 

 The foliage of deciduous trees has rarely been seen in such 

 luxuriant condition, the heavy rains which fell during April 

 having assisted in tlieir development. The flowering of the 

 ordinary ornamental trees and slirul)S is considerably behind 

 the average. Hawthorn and Holly are almost destitute of 

 flowers, in remarkable contrast to the profuse manner in 

 which they blossomed last year. 1 Rhododendrons and most 

 hard-wooded plants are developing line, strong growths, 

 luapid growth is the most notable feature of the month. 

 Herbaceous plants are flowiiring freely, but those which 

 flowered early in the season have set very little fruit ; Orohus, 

 Cowslips, Cyiwylossum, &c., grown here in quantity for class 



