SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



*53 



FIRST APPEARANCES OF SPRING FLOWERS. 



By Edwin E. Turner. 



T T has been my custom almost ever since first 

 A starting the study of flowers to keep a diary of 

 first appearances of the dates of flowering, and the 

 habit has been of considerable benefit in the zest 

 which it has given to observation at all times, 

 whenever or whatever business called me into 

 places where it could be exercised. On looking 

 over these notes it occurred to me that a com- 

 parison of the dates of the several years might be 

 of interest to others ; I therefore give the compara- 

 tive dates of first appearances of the flowers of 

 some common Spring plants during the years 

 1882 to 1894 inclusive. The observations were 

 made in this portion of the County of Essex. 

 In a few paragraphs the yearly dates do not fol- 

 low. The earliest month, irrespective of year, 

 having the leading position. The first recorded is : 



Germander speedwell (Veronica chamadrys), 

 which extends over a radius of five months, viz. : 

 From January 9th, 1882, to May 9th, 1891, two en- 

 tries being in January, one in March, four in April. 



Daisy (Bellis fierennis). — All January, 1892, to 

 March 31st, 1886; two in January, three in 

 February, and two in March. 



Cock's-foot grass (Dactylis glomerata). — January 

 9th, 1882, to May 25th, 1888 ; one in January and 

 eleven in May. 



Dog's mercury (Mcrcurialis perennis, male). — Janu- 

 ary 28th, 1882, to May 22nd, 1883 ; two in January, 

 four in February, five in March, one in May. 



Hazel (Corylus avellana, male and female). — 

 January 12th, 1884, to February 12th, 1888; five 

 in January and five in February. 



White campion (Lychnis vesper Una), — January 

 29th, 1882, to May 25th, 1888 ; one in January, one 

 in April, and eight in May. 



Periwinkle (Vinca minor). — January 5th, 1884, to 

 March 27th, 1886 ; two in January, one in February, 

 one in April, and three in March. 



Spurge laurel (Daphne laureola). — January 29th, 

 1882, to March 27th, 1886 ; one in January, three 

 in February, and five in March. 



Stitchwort (Stellaria media). — All January, 1882- 

 83, to February 10th, 1894 ; three in January 

 and four in February. 



Buttercup (Ranunculus bulbosus). — All January, 

 1882, to May 8th, 1887 ; four in January, seven in 

 April, and one in May. 



Purple deadnettle (Lamium purpurcum). — All 

 January, 1882-83, to March 16th, 1890 ; three in 

 January, four in February, and three in March. 



White deadnettle (Lamium album). — All January, 

 1882-83, to March 20th, 1886; three in January 

 and two in March. 



Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). — All January, 

 1882-83, to April 31st, 1887 ; four in January, one 

 in February, three in March, and two in April. 



Groundsel (Senecio vulgaris). — All January, 1882- 

 83, to February 6th, 1887 ; three in January and 

 one in February. 



Sweet violet (Viola adorata). — All January, 1882, 

 to March 27th, 1891 ; one in January, one in 

 February, and six in March. 



Primrose (Primula vulgaris). — All January, 1882- 

 83, to March 31st, 1889 ; two in January, two in 

 February, and five in March. 



Gorse (Ulcx europaus). — All January, 1882-83, to 

 April nth, 1886; three in January, one in March, 

 and three in April. 



Annual grass (Poa annua). — All January, 18S2-83 ; 

 three in January. 



Filbert (Corylus sativa, male and female). — 

 January 29th, 1892, to February 19th, 1893 ; one in 

 January and five in February. 



Yew (Taxus baccata, male). — February 2nd, 

 1884, to March 31st, 1889 ; seven in February and 

 four in March. 



Fig wort (Scrophularia aquatica). — February 14th, 



1882, to June 24th, 1884 ! one i n February, three in 

 May and four in June. 



Shepherd's needle (Scandix pecten-veneris). — 

 February 26th, 1882, to May 18th, 1889; one in 

 February, one in March, two in April, and six in 

 May. 



Pilewort (Ranunculus ficaria), — January 28th, 



1883, to March 30th, 1888 ; one in January, three 

 in February, and seven in March. 



Foetid hellebore (Hellcborus fwtidus). — Garden. 

 All January, 18S3, to April 13th, 1889 ; two in 

 January, one in February, two in March, and three 

 in April. 



Coltsfoot (Tusu'lago farfara). — February 10th, 

 1894, to March 30th, 1888 ; three in February and 

 nine in March. 



Wood anemone (Anemone nemorosa). — March 5th, 

 1882, to April 23rd, 1892 ; five in March and four 

 in April. 



Black poplar (Populns nigra). — March 5th, 1882, 

 to April 12th, 1890 ; five in March and five in April. 



Dog violet (Viola canina). — March 8th, 1SS4, to 

 April Sth, 1887; six in March and four in April. 



Whitlow-grass (Erophila vulgaris). — March 8th, 



1884, to April 23rd, 1892 ; six in March and four 

 in April. 



Ivy-leaved speedwell (Veronica hedereefolia). — 

 January 18th, 1S84, to April 14th, 1SS3 ; one in 

 January, one in February, four in March, and one 

 in April. 



