REV. R. F. WHEELER, M.A., AND DR. HOOPPELL. 505 



ground, and in others large old branches were destroyed. Seve- 

 ral of the pine tribe, and many hardy shrubs, were more or less 

 injured. Half the stock brocoli plants were destroyed. 

 Acklam. — Chickweed in flower on the 20th. 



March. — 



Acklam. — Hellebore, crocus, snowflakes, primrose, and other 

 plants, in flower on the 1st. Apricots in bloom on the 7th. 

 Black Prince strawberry in bloom on the 29th. 



April. — 



North Shields. — Cherry in bloom on the 18th. 



Bywell. — Cherry in bloom on the 10th. 



May.— 



Wallington. — The severe frost on the 17th nearly destroyed 

 the crops of cherries, plums, pears, and apples. The strong 

 northerly winds did much damage, not only to the fruit trees, 

 but also to the forest trees. Many of the beech trees had every 

 leaf destroyed. Ash trees were so much injured that many of 

 the leaf buds never burst, and others were delayed two or three 

 weeks before breaking. The bloom on the horse chestnuts, la- 

 burnums, and lilaes, was entirely destroyed, the flower spikes 

 turning black and falling off a few days afterwards. 



With respect to the potato disease Mr. Hedley writes : — "For 

 the last fifteen years I have observed with great attention the 

 first symptoms of potato blight. It showed itself this year 

 (1871) in the month of May, after several weeks of heavy rain, 

 as in previous years. I have invariably first observed it on the 

 haulm below the surface of the soil, and not first on the leaves, 

 as so many observers contend. On pulling up a side stalk or 

 two, and examining carefully the haulm, from the surface of the 

 soil to the base of the root, I have always found the rind damped 

 in places all round the stem. By carefully watching these symp- 

 toms week after week, these spots are seen gradually to increase 

 in size, and to become crusted, and of a brown colour, cutting 

 off the supply of sap to the leaves, which then become spotted 

 and yellow, and rapidly die." 



