1888-89.] Mr Lindsay's Report on Open-A ir Vegetation. 507 



purposes, cannot this season be had in fruit in anything like 

 sufficient quantity. Very little frost occurred when the 

 plants were in blossom to render them so barren, and I can 

 only attribute their present condition to weakness induced 

 by the cold, dull summer of last year. The lowest night 

 temperature recorded at the Garden was 35°, which took 

 place on the 3rd of the month; other low readings were 

 registered— on the 1st, 40°; 2nd, 37°; 26th, 38°; 30th, 37°; 

 all the other readings were above 40°. The lowest day 

 temperature was 52°, on the 5th ; and the highest 77° on 

 the 22nd. 



The rock-garden was very attractive during the month, 

 from the large number of plants in blossom; 380 species 

 and varieties opened their first flowers in May. 



June. — This month has been one of the finest recorded, 

 the beneficial effects of which will probably be felt even 

 more next season than this. Just as many of our garden 

 plants are still suffering from the bad effects of the previous 

 cold summer, so we may not expect to reap the full benefit 

 of the splendid weather of the last two months till next 

 season. The foliage of all forest and ornamental trees is 

 now complete, and remarkably fine. Aphides, caterpillar, 

 and other insect pests have been very abundant, owing to 

 the prolonged drought, and in many parts of the country 

 the leaves of Beech, Oak, and Lime trees have been very 

 much injured by their ravages ; here no serious damage has 

 been done as yet. 



Nearly all variegated plants have developed richly 

 coloured leaves. Conifers being particularly bright. Generally 

 speaking, flowers are less abundant on most plants than 

 usual ; Elder seems to be an exception here. A very large 

 number of plants came into flower in the rock-garden during 

 June, no fewer than 444 species and varieties having been 

 counted, many of which went quickly out of flower. The 

 lowest night temperature was 35°, which was recorded on 

 the 11th of the month. Other low readings were — on the 

 5th, 40°; 6th, 42°; 8th, 39°; 13th, 42°. The lowest day 

 temperature was 56°, on the 2nd ; and the highest 85°, on the 

 26th of the month. Rain fell on five days only. A few 

 of the more interesting plants in flower on the rock-garden 

 were — 



