80 



TRANSACTIONS AND I'llOCEEDINGS OF TUK [Sess. Lxv. 



12th May 1893. — Out of the 5-53 inches of rain, 1*32 

 inch fell in five hours on 7th May ; but even supposing 

 the effect of this had not l)een fully exhausted, still the 

 month had had a good rainfall. Why then the poor 

 growth ? 



12th August 1893. — There is a good rainfall of 5-01 ; 

 and in this case there had been no rain since 30th July. 

 Again, why the poor growth ? 



In this Table VI. (deciduous trees, 12 th November 

 1892), out of the 3*88 inches of rainfall, 3-41 inches fell 

 from 4th to 9th November, three days before measuring 

 day. Manifestly this rainfall had not had time to effect 

 its full benefit. And for sleeping season, reference to this 

 has been made in the remarks on Table V. 



Thus in the thirty-six cases of best and worst growth, 

 eight that seem to run counter to the general rule of 

 " heavy rain, good growth ; light rain, bad growth," have 

 been reasonably explained, though no explanation is offered 

 for two other cases. And still it seems as if rain were the 

 sole factor of growth, temperature and sunshine being 

 merely accessories. This is hard to believe ; for to what 

 but to sun and heat, added to abundant rain, can be 

 attributed the luxuriant growth of the tropics ? And to 

 what but to the lack of heat can be attributed the meagre 

 growth of high latitudes ? But the connection between 

 sun and warmth and good growth does not appear from 

 all the foregoing investigations, save in one little point. 

 It will be noticed in the figures with which I shall 

 conclude that minimum thermometer is lower in the 

 worst growth cases, both in evergreens and deciduous 

 trees. 



