80 Sir Robert Cliristison on the 



lated some observations of interest on tliis su])ject. But I 

 liavo the prospect of others which are likely to increase the 

 value of those now at my disposal. It is better therefore to 

 postpone this topic; and I do so the more willingly, because 

 I can substitute a diiferent one, of more immediate interest, 

 and which has arisen incidentally from the measurements 

 of numerous trees of various species during our last most 

 ungenial season. This subject is the influence of that 

 season on the growth of tree-wood. 



Various notices have appeared in newspapers and 

 periodicals as to the influence of the unpropitious season of 

 1879. In some respects the statements of fact are some- 

 what conflicting. There is a general agreement, however, 

 that the foliage of trees was abundant, or even luxuriant, 

 but that their fructification was very defective ; and some 

 statements represent the annual shoots to have been of the 

 usual length. According to my own observation in the 

 country around Edinburgh, and also in the district of the 

 Tay between Blair-Athole, Loch-Tummel, and Aberfeldie 

 up-stream, and Dunkeld below, the foliage of most trees 

 was rich and healthy. But there were exceptions. Not 

 universally, but in many places in both counties, the beech 

 and elm were decidedly deficient in foliage, and especially 

 the elm. On the contrary the oak and sycamore struck me 

 as luxuriant in that respect. As to the fruit, it was observed 

 that the sycamore parted with most of it not long after its 

 formation ; and the elm, which drops it always early, did so 

 after an unusually brief existence. The same was probably 

 the fate of other unobserved species. A singular concord- 

 ance was noticed in the case of the cherry; which in three 

 gardens within my observation gave promise of an abundant 

 crop, till the fruit was a little bigger than cherry-stones, 

 when they almost all dropped off, without wind, frost, or 

 any other atmospheric hardship. 



It also deserves notice, though bearing but slightly and 

 collaterally on the object of this paper, that the lateness and 

 coldness of the summer season appeared to exert no injurious 

 effect on the flowering of annual herbaceous plants, whether 

 indigenous or of the hardy introduced kinds. Among the 

 former, I was particularly struck with the splendour of the 

 fox-glove in all quarters of Strath-Tay, even on the bare, 



