114 JJETE0R0L0GICAT REPORT, 1864, 



terms in condemnation of it, for, when a man wants a fern for 

 his herbarium or his greenhouse, it is hard to say he may not 

 take it. Yet it would be well if we could learn to enjoy and to 

 study more the beauty of these plants in their natural abodes — a 

 beauty far surpassing that which they can ever attain under arti- 

 ficial conditions — and for the sake of this refuse to gratify the 

 destructive or acquisitive tendencies of our nature. There is 

 even some risk of plants once tolerably common becoming rare 

 from the depredations of collectors and nurserymen. A very few 

 years ago in Far Easedale, an unfrequented glen near Grasmere, 

 the banks of the stream were rich with forests of Osmnuda 

 regalis. Last autumn not a plant of it remained. Erom the 

 more accessible habitats of Bydal and Grasmere it has long since 

 disappeared, though it once fringed the lakes with luxuriant 

 beauty. 



VII. — Meteorological Report for 1864. Edited by Geo. Clayton 

 Atkinson, Esq. 



(LOCAL OBSERVATIONS FOE 1864.) 

 ME. G. C. ATKINSON, WYLAM. 



January. — Hard frost till 10th; then short frosts and thaws 

 till 20th ; afterwards windy open weather till the end. Baro- 

 meter steady till 20th and declining gradually, then fluctuating 

 till 31st; mean height 28*877 at Literary and Philosophical So- 

 ciety in Newcastle corrected for everything. 



February. — A good deal of E. wind, as shown by high clouds 

 overhead ; though generally W. in valley ; latter part of month 

 calm. Barometer pretty steady; mean height 29-890. 



March. — Larks singing on 2nd ; apricot in blossom on cold wall 

 on 19th. Cold dull month, with very little sunshine. Barometer 

 fluctuating; mean height 29-695. 



April. — Bibes sanguinea in flower on 7th ; pear on open wall 

 on 9th; and Sand Martins seen on 9th; black thorn on 17th; 

 and Willow Wren heard 17th. Eine month, though chill winds 

 from JST.E. prevailed for the last week. The middle of the month 



