JULY. 123 



Chapter IX. July. 

 I. 



TULY is the coldest month of the year, and though the 

 ^ days are lengthening appreciably, yet the ground is 

 probably more thoroughly chilled than at any other 

 season, and vegetation is correspondingly retarded. The 

 severity of the weather in this and succeeding months 

 is seldom, however, due to mere lowness of temperature 

 the amount of moisture in the air is a much more potent 

 factor. Thvis a succession of hard frosts does compara- 

 tively little damage even to half-hardy plants if the 

 weather is dry ; but a fall of a few degrees below the 

 freezing point following close upon rain or snow will 

 probably destroy or cut back a number of delicate plants 

 Avhich may be able to survive many winters when 

 the conditions are more equable. Our most destructive 

 frosts nearly always are the result of clear nights, when 

 there is comparatively unchecked radiation, after days 

 of rain. 



The severity of a winter season has probably very little 

 effect in retarding the development of vegetation in the 

 following spring and summer. In the case of both 

 biennials and perennials the vigour of the growth, and 

 especially the development of flower and fruit, depend on 

 the amount of growth in the preceding summer. This 

 again is probably more largely dependent on the amount 

 of light than of heat, for the more plants are subjected 

 to light in their period of growth the greater the amount 

 of material they are likely to store up in their stems 

 and roots for the next year's time of fruition. 



July is a rather dead season for the botanist. Of native 

 flowering plants with conspicuous flowers very few are as 

 yet to be met with in flower. As sometimes happens, even 

 in June, early examples of the Fuchsia and of the kowhai 



