(.'^ipipactis violacea) were fo-und near Hougham. Although 

 1951 v/as -unus-ually s-unless v/ith the temperature lower 

 than average, it was remarkably constant thro"ugho"ut 

 S-ummer and Autumn v/ithout the sudden hot spells and cold 

 snaps that often occur after midsummer, i-ts a result sub- 

 tropical plants flowered freely, including many that 

 ordinarily are shy in blooming. 



Several curious items were noted :- 



The perfume of scented plants was intensified* Roses, 

 both v/ild and cultivated were particularly fine and 

 bloomed lavishly. Large patches of milk Thistle (Carduus 

 marianus) grew on the chalk escarpment above the Canal 

 Bank at Hythe. Masses of Liverwort (Marchantia 

 pol5rraorpha) appeared on the burnt out bog on Hothfield 

 Common. Double Sea Campion v/as found at Dungoness, and 

 double Chamomile at Biggins V/ood. Bell Heather (Erica 

 cinerea) v/as fully out on September 26th in Sandling 

 Park, v/hen Ling (Calluna vulgaris) v/as over - usually 

 Bell Heather is over first. In the same place were oak 

 apples as big as marbles, on the leaves . 



In contrast to 1951 a^^ in spite of a blizzard and 

 deep snow in March, 1952 had an early spring. By April 

 26th bluebells, and cowslips and green winged orchis 

 (Orchis morio) wore in full bloom. Beds of V/allf lowers 

 and Tulips v/ere fully out; Horse Chestnut blooms and 

 Apple Blossom were open. Strangely, Bee Orchids (Ophrys 

 apifera) v/ere fev/ and late, but the rare Late Spider 

 Orchids (Ophrys aranifera) v/ere early and abundant. In 

 June Sea Heath (Prankenia laevis) and Golden Samphire 

 (Inula crithmoides) were in bloom; usually these do not 

 flov/er until late July and ^..ugust. The summer was fine 

 and hot; corn v/as ripening by the end of June and there 

 v/as a drought in many places. In a dried up pond Y/ater 

 Crowfoot (Ranunculas aquatilis Var). assumed the habit 

 of a land plant, the foliage leaves being suppressed and 

 the much divided submerpced leaves being held upright 



