SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



equal over a wide area of the surface. Besides, 

 there are vast masses of ice and snow which 

 prevent the temperature from rising very much 

 above freezing-point. From observations made we 

 may conclude that in the month of July the tempera- 

 ture around the Pole is about 2° C. (35 6 F.). But 

 through the direct action of the sun on the balloon 

 a far more pleasant temperature should be enjoyed. 

 This is as regards the surface of the earth. But 

 at higher altitudes of course the temperature is 

 lower, falling about 1° C. per 200 metres. Thus at 

 a height of 250 metres we may expect to encounter 

 a temperature of 1° C. (33-8 F.). Along the shores 

 of the Arctic Ocean the temperature in July 

 averages about 6° C. (42-8 F.) ; north of this isotherm 

 there are no thunderstorms or hail, fine snow only 

 falling. Thus there is no danger of the balloon 

 being struck by lightning or hail. On account of 

 the even atmospheric conditions, violent storms 

 are comparatively rare in the Polar regions in 

 summer, which should augur well for the success 

 of the expedition. 



Clouds and Fogs. 



When warm water and ice meet thick fogs are 

 generated. Such is for instance the case between 

 Norway and Spitzbergen where the Gulf Stream 



flows into the Polar ice, and at the North Siberian 

 coast where the great Siberian rivers discharge 

 their warm waters into the ice. Some have from 

 this concluded that such fogs are general in the 

 Polar regions, and prevent us observing the surface 

 of the earth. This is a mistake. Fogs are rare 

 near the Pole. At Cape Thordsen we observed 

 fogs in July only during nine per cent, of the whole 

 month, and in August only during four per 

 cent. At Mosselbay (further west in Spitzbergen) 

 there were observed in July and August (July 

 observations are wanting) fogs during only six per 

 cent, of the entire time, and at Fort Conger fogs 

 were very rare. If the sky be always overcast, it 

 would be impossible to determine the course of the 

 balloon by astronomical observations, and although 

 the cloudiness is greater at Spitzbergen than with 

 us in summer, the observations from Cape 

 Thordsen and Fort Conger agree that in July 

 the sky is cloudless on thirty per cent, of its 

 surface, and this more than suffices for our 

 astronomical observations. Nor is it probable 

 that the cloudiness increases northwards from 

 these stations. 



As regards the descent of the balloon, a map has 

 been traced showing the northenmost limit of 

 human habitations. 



BOTANICAL JOTTINGS 



By the Rev. Hilderic Friend. 



A FEW items of sufficient interest to make them 

 -^"^ noteworthy have recently come under my 

 observation. Having for many years been in the 

 habit of recording any exceptional occurrence, I 

 now find it easy to detect anything unusual, and 

 the following facts have struck me as being some- 

 what out of the ordinary course of events. 



I. — The Guelder Rose. 



This interesting shrub {Vibiirmcm opulus, L.) is so 

 widely distributed, and both by its flowers and 

 fruit is rendered so conspicuous, that everyone in 

 the least acquainted with plants will be familiar 

 therewith. Its flower-cymes usually have a circlet 

 or ray of barren florets, which correspond with the 

 white ray florets in the marguerite. When the 

 whole flower is rendered barren by cultivation or 

 otherwise, the flower-heads form a perfect globe, 

 whence the name of snow-ball tree. Sir John 

 Lubbock's note shows that its method of fertiliza- 

 tion has been little studied. "Viburnum (the 

 guelder rose) secretes honey," he says, "and the 

 flowers are collected into a head as in the elder, 

 but the outer florets have the corolla considerably 

 enlarged at the expense of the stamens and pistil. 

 Although, therefore, they produce neither pollen nor 



seeds, they are useful to the plant, by rendering the 

 outer flowers more conspicuous, and thus attract- 

 ing insects" ("British Wild Flowers," p. 109). 

 The inference is that the flowers are ' ' accessible to 

 all insects," and may, therefore, be fertilized by 

 any. No allusion is made to the peculiar odour 

 emitted by the flowers when the dews of evening 

 fall upon them — an odour somewhat resembling 

 that of the horse-daisy {Chrysanthemum leucanthe- 

 mu?n, L.) and some other flowers, and partaking 

 strongly of the character of urate of ammonia. 

 I was first struck by this when walking along 

 a Sussex lane one e"ening some years ago. 

 But my present object is to call attention to a 

 peculiarity which has now been more than one 

 season in succession under inspection. This 

 peculiarity will be best understood by comparing 

 the two photographs which I have taken — the one 

 to represent the guelder rose in its normal attire, 

 the other in what seems to be a very unusual form. 

 About five miles from Cockermouth, in a 

 northerly direction, is the little hamlet of Sunder- 

 land. It is in the parish of Isel, and chiefly 

 belongs to Sir Wilfred Lawson, M.P. I was 

 walking from Isel to Sunderland recently, just 

 when the viburnum was in its prime, and eagerly 



