Calendar of Nature. 83 
To avoid repetition in describing the lines on the preceding diagram, we 
must refer to Vol. I. p. 478. The mean temperature in October this year was 
46°; and in November, 39°8°. In turning back to p. 94. Vol. IL., it will be 
observed that the temperature in October last year was 4°5°, and in No- 
vember 4°3°, higher than in the corresponding month this season. The depth 
of rain in October this year amounted to 2°25in., and in November to 
2°5 in., being nearly half an inch less than fell durmg the same period last 
season ; and this difference of temperature has been accompanied with cor- 
responding effects on the progress of vegetation. The last day of October 
was the coldest: mean temperature of that day 39°; extreme cold 35°; 
wind N. The warmest day in that month was the 11th: mean temperature 
of that day 54°5°; extreme heat 59°; wind W. The coldest day in 
November was the 18th: mean temperature of that day 33°5°; extreme 
cold 28°; wind N. The warmest day in that month was on the 3d: mean 
temperature of that day 48°5°; extreme heat 52°: wind W. The mercury 
in the barometer was highest on the 28th of October, bemg 29°85 in. ; and 
lowest on the 21st, being 28°72 in. In November the mercury in the baro- 
meter was highest on the 19th: height 29°78 in.; and lowest on the 4th, 
being 28°70in. The wind is invariably in the east or north-east when the mer- 
curial column rises highest ; and frequently in the west and south-west when 
it is most depressed. In October there were only 3 days of brilliant, and 12 
days of partial, sunshine; 16 days were cloudy. Rain fell on 9 days, and 
22 days were fair. In November there were 9 days of brilliant sunshine, 
and 3 partial sunshine; 18 were cloudy; and on 10 of these days rain fell. 
There were loud gales of wind on the 5th, 6th, 8th, 10th, 11th, and 14th of 
October ; and brisk gales on the 13th and 25th of November. 
The rains in the early months of autumn produced a continued evapo- 
ration, which cooled the earth’s surface to that degree, that it prevented wheat 
from giving a braird in the same time, under the same temperature in the 
air, as last year. On the 7th of October the Grampian Hills were covered 
with a slight fleece of snow, and a few flocks of wild geese were seen arriving 
from the northern coasts to the Low Carse. Wheat that was sown on the 
Ist appeared above ground on the 18th: mean temperature of that period 
47°3°. It will be seen at Vol. II. p. 96., that wheat gave a braird in 13 days 
in October last year, under a mean temperature of 52°. Flocks of fieldfares 
appeared in the Carse of Gowrie on the 26th. The flowers of the A’rbutus 
U'nedo began to open on the 12th, and the plants were in full blow by the 
28th. The harvest last season “ was secured on the highest grounds, which 
form the north bank of the Carse of Gowrie, by the 22d of September.” 
(Vol. IL p.96.) It was the 6th day of October this year that the fields 
were clear on the same grounds, 15 days later. 
At the beginning of November, forest trees exhibited the “ sear and yellow 
leaf,” but few had parted from the tree. The frequent loud winds to which 
they had been exposed throughout the autumn months, had partly strength- 
ened that part which attaches the leaf to the shoot ; and the low tempera- 
ture retarded the ripening of the young wood : about a third part fell on the 
forenoon of the 9th, after a severe hoar frost on the morning of that day; on 
the 18th and 19th, a keen frost completed the work of denudation on beech, 
birch, ash, maple, &c. ; but young oaks, and many varieties of apple and plum 
trees on standards, still retain about a fourth part of their foliage, an unfa- 
vourable symptom for the crop of fruit or acorns next year. On the 18th 
georginas, Indian shot, love-apples, &c., were destroyed by a temperature of 
28°, The Chinese primrose withstood the early shock in the open border, 
and also the early red Indian chrysanthemum, both of which are now in 
flower in the open air. Below or at 40° mean temperature, vegetation 
makes very slow and imperceptible progress. Wheat which was sown this 
year on the 24th of October, only gave a braird on the 22d of November, a 
period of 29 days; mean temperature of that period 41°2° : and wheat that 
G 
