Mr Sadler's Report on Opcn-Air Vegetation. 227 



as only to render the air genial and summer-like. There were 

 several bright displays of Aurora Borealis, and also unusually heavy 

 faUs of dew. The month well illustrated Professor Smyth's " wave 

 of solar heat." Fifty-four species and varieties of plants came into 

 flower in the Eock Garden, making a total of 754 for the season. 

 Amongst the plants in bloom were Monthretia Pottd, Calceolaria 

 clielidoni(Bfolia, Yucca jUamentosa, ColcMcum striatum, Convolvulus 

 Scammonia, Cyananthus lohatus, &c. 



September 1880. — The lowest temperatures registered were on the 

 8th, 40°; 9th, 39°; 12th, 42°; 18th, 38°; 19th, 36°. The highest day 

 temperatures in the shade were on the 1st, 72°; 2nd, 72°; 3rd, 75°; 

 28th, 70°; 30th 70°. During the first week of the month the fine 

 weather of August was continued, but during the second week heavy 

 showers and easterly winds caused a falHng of temperature, and 

 there was a decrease of bright sunlight. This continued until the 

 26th, when the weather again became bright, settled, and dry by 

 (lay, but cold during the night. The rains acted beneficially on all 

 plants still capable of growth, while the dry weather and bright 

 sunshine in the latter part of the month did much in ripening late 

 fruiting plants. Twenty-six species and varieties came into flower 

 in the Eock Garden, making a total of 780 for the season. These 

 included Lobelia hctea, Lilium longifloram, L. aurattim, ColcMcum 

 maximum, Gaultlieria carnea, &c. 



The favourable natiu-e of the weather diuing the past two months 

 so matured the wood of trees and shrubs as to give promise of a 

 great display of flower next season. The Ehododendrons, for 

 instance, set their flower-buds in a way that has not been seen for 

 the past three years. 



October 1880. — The first frost experienced since the 14th May 

 last was on the morning of the 4th, when the thermometer stood at 

 30°, or 2° of frost. During the month the thermometer was at or 

 below the freezing-point on eleven occasions (in 1879 nine times). 

 The lowest temperatures were on the 12th, 27° (or 5° of frost) ; 19th, 

 26°; 20th, 22'; 22nd, 22°; 28th, 26 . There were registered coUec- 

 tively for the month 48° of frost, as compared with 36° in 1879. 

 The highest day temperatures in the shade were on the 1st, 54°; 3rd 

 52°; 7th, 58°; 14th, 53°; 17th, 54\ The first three days of' the 

 month were warm and genial ; on the 4th the temperature fell below 

 the freezing-point, and up to the 1 2th there were storms of wind 

 rain, hail, and cold blasts from the north-east. From the 12th to 

 the 18th the Aveather Avas again mild, with soft westerly and 

 southerly breezes. From the 18th to the 24th the weather was 

 very inclement, and intensely cold, 10° of frost being registered on 

 the 20th and 22nd, and violent gales from the north-oast, with 

 storms of liail, rain, snow, sleet, and thunder. 



