the statistics of the immediate past (October, 1954 to September, 1955) 

 and see what we in Folkestone have already enjoyed — or endured. 



The statistical record reminds us of a relatively long-drawn and 

 quite windy winter with temperatures, however, not exceptionally 

 low — the minimum daily temperature recorded as 25 °F on January 

 17th and against this was beset the 61 °F measured on the 31st of that 

 same month. Although snow fell on only 22 days, it delayed the arrival 

 of Spring and the consequent transformation of our environment, 

 physical and human. 



A dry April (only two wet days !) then prefaced the type of Summer 

 so long sought by the holidaymakers on the coast. With pleasant, and 

 meteorologically protective, easterly winds, came the welcome sunshine, 

 on all but 14 days in the four-month period from June to September. 

 Some days recorded up to 15 hours of sunshine and there was a general 

 high daily sunshine average while, during the same period of the 122 

 days only 35 recorded any rainfall (totalling 6.94 inches out of 30.01 

 inches for the whole 12 months). It became almost difficult to find 

 suitable rational grounds for our national meteorological discontent — 

 but there is always next year. 



G. H. Hones. 



Our grateful thanks to the Folkestone Borough Engineer for the 

 statistics on which the above article is firmly based. — Ed. 



THE WILD FLOWER EXHIBIT 



A T the request of certain members of the Town Council, during the 

 ■^ past summer an exhibit of wild flowers has been displayed at Cheriton 

 Library, once a month, for a week ; it has been much appreciated 

 especially by the school children. Much as we should like this to be a 

 permanent weekly feature, the demand^ of the large exhibit at the Central 

 Library does not permit of our giving more time to Cheriton. If any 

 of our members could undertake the small Cheriton display regularly, 

 it would be a great help, and they would earn the gratitude of the Town. 



It has been brought to our notice that there is an impression that 

 the Society indulges in the indiscriminate picking of rarities in order 

 to maintain the wild flower exhibit. This is quite incorrect ; those 

 responsible are careful never to touch rare plants where only a few exist. 

 Some confusion has probably arisen over certain plants which are rare 

 in other parts of England, but common in this part of Kent ; sometimes 

 they are abundant, and friends will kindly bring us in specimens from 

 other areas ; when this happens, and if the flowers are long lasting, we 

 may have several spikes of Lady Orchid, for instance, on view at a time, 



