WEATHER REPORT. 
The total amount of precipitation in the Garden during July, 
1902, amounted to 4.12 inches. Maximum temperatures of the 
air were observed as follows: go’ on the sth, 93.5° on the gth, 
gt° on the 15th, 83° on the 22d and g0.5° onthe 28th. Minima 
of 51.5° on the 2d, 52.5° on the 11th, 50° on the 17th and 56° 
on the 26th were recorded. 
The temperature of the soil at a depth of 30 cm. (1 foot) 
ranged from 47.5 to 55.5° F. 
Two examples of lightning stroke on trees were observed in 
the Garden. A large tulip tree (Liriodendron tulipifera) on the 
northern bank of the lake north of the museum was struck, the 
only outward signs of the stroke being the stripping of the bark 
in a narrow irregula: band from the trunk. The discharge was 
of such intensity, however, that the tree began to cast its leaves 
within two days and was dead within a week. The second tree 
was a small hemlock (7suga Canadensis) about fifty-five feet in 
height near the Lorillard dam. This tree stood in the center of 
a triangle formed bya larger hemlock, a white oak (Quercus alba) 
and a red oak (Quercus rubra), the branches of which completely 
overshadowed the smaller hemlock affected. The “stroke” ap- 
peared to be due to an earth discharge, as the outer layers of the 
trunk near the base which was about fifteen inches in diameter 
were slightly split, while the amount of rending increased up- 
wardly, culminating at a height of about forty feet, where the 
entire trunk was shattered, long fragments being hurled many 
yards. Enough of the riven portion remained in place, however, 
to support a section of the top about twelve feet in length, which 
appeared entirely untouched. 
COOPERATION WITH THE PUBLIC SCHOOLS. 
In compliance with a request from the Board of Education 
special facilities have been afforded to the pupils in the vacation 
schools for the inspection of the collections of living plants in 
