XVII.] CLLAIATE AND LIFE-EVENTS. 301 



plain that records of either leafing or flowering are 

 not sufficient to measure the comparative oncoming of 

 spring in different latitudes, and that, of the two, the 

 record of flowering is the more important. 



This general effect of climate upon the life -events 

 of plants is thoroughly appreciated by phenologists. 

 Linsser declares* that plants originating in the north 

 and transplanted to the south are quicker in their 

 periods than those originating in the south, and south- 

 ern plants transferred to the north are slower. In 

 like manner, alpine plants taken to the warmer plains 

 are quicker than the resident plants, whilst those from 

 the plains are slower than alpine plants when taken 

 to the mountains. 



This crowding effect of the short seasons of higher 

 latitudes and altitudes can often be traced in those 

 northern regions which contain a sprinkling of south- 

 ern types of plants. The late -blooming and early - 

 blooming plants often modify their periodicities in 

 such cases, so that their epochs overlap or mingle. 

 Professor W. W. Bailey has noticed this phenomenon 

 in New Brunswick :t "In botanizing about the capi- 

 tal city, Fredericton, which is about sixty miles in- 

 land, I was impressed with the curious mingling of 

 early summer and autunm flowers. In the same field 

 would be seen, in blossom, Leucanthemum vulgare, 

 Ranunculus acris in profusion, and several solidagos 

 and asters. The short summer of the region seems 

 to crowd the seasons together ; ' spring and autumn 

 here dance hand in hand.' " 



*Carl Linsser, Die Periodischen Erscheimmgen des Pflanzenlebens, etc., Mem. 

 Acad. Sci. St. Petersb. ser. vii. xi. No. 7, 39. 



tBuU. Torr. Bot. Club, viii. 129. In this connection, it is interesting to note 

 that Dr. Vroom, of St. Johns, considers, from the probable movements in plant- 

 frontiers, that the New Brunswick climate is ameliorating. 



