386 Effects of Winter 1881-82. 



average of 42", the liighest day temperature being 54'' on the 15th, 

 and the lowest at niglit 30° on the 4tli and Gtli. Vegetation began 

 to be active, and winter crops — such as Cabbage, Spinach, Leeks, 

 Onions, and the like — made unusual progress. Throughout the 

 month many plants were in flower; early Ehododondrons, Erica 

 herbacea, and Cldmoncmtlms fragrans being particularly fine. In 

 the course of the month, 4° of frost were registered on two days. 

 Eainfall, 1*40 inches. 



Slight frost prevailed from the 1st to the 9th of February, and 

 again on the 15th and 16th, the severest being on the 2nd, when 

 the thermometer stood at 27^, and the montli closed Avith 29'"' on 

 the 28th. In all 30° of frost were registered on 10 days. Vege- 

 tation made steady progress, but not so rapidly as in the previous 

 month. Numerous spring flowers were in bloom, Avhich after the 

 IGth were scarcely ever affected by frost. Rainfall, 1"70 inches. 



During March the thermometer stood at 30° on the 6th, 28° on 

 the 7th, 28° on the 21st, 29° on the 22ud, and 31° on the 23rd— 

 in all 12° of frost on 5 days. Spring flowers were in abundance, 

 and vegetation made great progress for the season of the year. 

 Rainfall, 2 inches. 



April began with a cold easterly wind, Avhich checked vegetation, 

 but there was no frost till the 8th, when the thermometer regis- 

 tered 27°, with 28° on the 9th, 28° on the 10th, 31° on the 11th, 

 27° on the 12th, 28° on the 15th, and 26° on tlie 16th, after Avhich 

 we had no more frost for the season. In all 29° of frost were 

 reffistered on 7 days. Eainfall, 1"80 inches. 



Comparing this with the previous Avinter, it Avill be seen that Ave 

 have had 53 frosty days, Avith 205 degrees of frost, against 148 frosty 

 days, and 1300° of frost in the Avinter of 1880-81. As shown by the 

 rainfall — 11 '50 inches in seven months — the winter was dry as 

 Avell as mild, and plants gradually ripened their groAvth and buds 

 throughout the winter, so that they started in spring Avith much 

 more vigour than could have been expected from their unripe con- 

 dition in the autumn. The chill easterly winds in April checked 

 their growth, and brought myriads of insects, Avhich did much injury 

 to plants till about the middle of May, Avhen Avarm genial Aveather 

 setting in, vegetation made a great rush for a month or so. HeaA'y 

 rains and cold winds began in the middle of June and lasted till the 

 end of July, destroying much of the fine promise in the spring of 

 an abundant groAvth duilng the season. 



All through the winter of 1881-82 many plants Avere to be seen 

 in flower. Rhododendron dauncum, R. Nohlecmum, and R. cmicasi- 

 cum album Avere in floAver from November onAvards, and after the 

 nip of frost in the middle of February, which blackened a fcAv of 

 their flowers, they, and many other A'^arieties of early Rhododendrons, 



