conditions from Whitsun onwards meant that wild flowers were not 

 abundant. Most of the Sea Beet, Beta maritima L. was killed during 

 the winter ; this is very unusual. Early Orchids were scarce, except 

 for the Early Purple and Lady Orchids but later in the year several 

 colonies of Isle of Wight Helleborine Epipactis vectensis (T. & T. A. 

 Steph.) appeared in different places. There appeared to be less than 

 usual of Herb Robert Geranium robertianum L. and Lady's Bedstraw 

 Galium verum L. and it was difficult to find enough for the display in 

 the library. Broomrapes Orobanche spp. were also very scarce; Cowslips 

 Primula veris L. and Meadow Sweet Spiraea ulmaria L. were abundant, 

 and there were large quantities of Viviparous Garlic Allium virreale L. 

 at Lydd. In gardens, Chickweed Stellaria media Vill. and Shepherd's 

 Purse Capsella bursa-pastoris Medit. were a source of much trouble. 



On July 29th a devastating gale left the countryside, especially 

 near the sea, looking as though it had been attacked by a flame gun. 

 The "Gardener's Chronicle" said that the previous occasion when there 

 was a comparable storm on July 29th was during the time of the Spanish 

 Armada. Let us hope that it will be another 400 years before this 

 happens again ! When the vegetation had recovered somewhat, there 

 were untimely autumn blossomings of many spring flowering trees such 

 as apple, lilac and laburnum and shrubby honeysuckle Lonicera xylosteum 

 Thomsoni ; a pear tree in Beachborough Road was in full blossom. 



A dry sunny October and November did much to make amends 

 for the disastrous summer and enabled most of the harvest to be saved. 

 In November there was a fine display of autumn colouring ; it was 

 a warm autumn, except for a sharp frosty spell in November ; and there 

 was the first white Christmas for nearly 20 years. 



Vera F. P. Day, n.d.h., f.r.h.s. 



BOTANICAL NOTES FROM THE ASHFORD 

 DISTRICT 



'T'HE season was late in starting because of the intense cold of February 

 -^ and March, but in the cool damp summer that followed plant life 

 soon recovered and produced flowers as abundantly as ever. 



The Pale Poppy Papaver argemone L. was found in bloom near 

 Hothfield during May and again some weeks later near Potter's Corner. 

 This poppy is easily distinguished by its long narrow seed pods sparsely 

 covered with bristles. Another of the less common species, the Bristly 

 Poppy Papaver hybridum L. was seen at Westwell downs in October. 

 This poppy has egg-shaped seed pods covered with many bristles. 



