Mr Lindsay's Report on Open- Air Vegetation. 473 



aS'. sibirica, 7th ; Galanthus nivalis, 13th ; Eranthis hyemalis, 

 15th; Corylus Avellana, 15th; Leucojum vernum, 16th; 

 Galanthus plicatus, l7th; Bhododendron atrovirens, 18th; 

 Tussilago alba, 19th ; Rhododendron Nobleanum, 20th ; Daphne 

 Mezereum, 24th ; Crocus susiamis, 26th ; Bidbocodium vernum, 

 29th ; Crocus vernus, 30th ; Tussilago nivea, 30th ; Sisyrin- 

 chium grandiflorum, 31st ; Symplocarpus foetidus, 31st. These 

 are on an average three weeks earlier than last year. 



February. — The month has been on the whole favourable, 

 having been dry and cold generally. The thermometer was 

 at or below freezing point on nineteen mornings, indicating 

 collectively 101° of frost for the month, as against 103° for the 

 corresponding month last year. N"o very low readings were 

 registered, the lowest being on the 6th, 24° ; 7th, 22° ; 8th, 

 22°; 9th, 21°; 11th, 21°. The lowest day temperature was 

 on the 8th, 34°, and the highest on the 23rd, 59°. Slight 

 falls of snow occurred on seven days, and rain on four 

 days. 



Vegetation generally is well forward. A large number of 

 spring flowers are in blossom. Eibes, Thorns, Lilacs, and 

 other hardy shrubs are fast starting into growth ; deciduous 

 trees, such as Elm, Poplar, and Alder, are bearing enormous 

 quantities of flower-buds. Many half-hardy Australian and 

 New Zealand plants are still quite safe in the open borders, 

 without their having been protected from frost. Spring- 

 flowering bulbs, having received but little check, are flowering 

 very profusely, and are fully up to the average in richness 

 and quality of blossom. There is every prospect of the 

 season being a good and early one. 



The following spring-flowering plants annually recorded to 

 the Society came into flower in February, viz. : — 8yniphijtum 

 caucasicum and Arabis albida, on the 1st ; Nordmannia cordi- 

 folia, 2nd ; Scilla bifolia, 15th ; Iris reticidata, 16th ; Mandra- 

 gora vernalis, 18th ; Sisyrinchium grandiflorum album, 26th ; 

 Scilla bifolia alba, 28th. 



On the Eock Garden twenty-five species came into flower 

 during the month, the most interesting being Chionodoxa 

 sardcnsis, Corydalis angustifolia, Crocus suaveolens, Daphne 

 Blagayana, Doronictom caucasicum. Erica carnea, Galanthus 

 Redoutei, Iris reticulata, Narcissus minimus, Rhododendron 



