INTRODUCTION. 



II. The mean succession in time of the different phases (especially the 

 opening of the flowers — as is shown in our " scheme " given below, 

 founded on observations in Giessen — appears to be uniform throughout 

 Europe (with a few exceptions which should be more closely investigated). 

 A comparison may be made (of observations extending over at least ten 

 years) between Giessen, Copenhagen, Marlborough, Selborne, Swaffham, 

 St. Petersburg, Ostend, Vienna, Prague, Wyngan, Winnendan, Zwenkau, 

 Zloczow, Hermannstadt, &c. 



It may hence be thought possible to construct a normal plant (such as 

 the widely distributed and early blossoming Corylus, Ribes rubrutn, 

 Betula alba, or Prunus spinosa), and to compare all others with it. 



The first points for phenological observations — an approximate and 

 preliminary description having now been given in the preceding work — 

 should be as follows : — 



1. Continuation of the interrupted observations at the majority of the 

 stations established, for the purpose of obtaining true means instead of 

 the provisional ones. 



2. General charts for individual species; as the blossoming and ripen- 

 ing of the fruit oi^sculus axidSecale. (Avery comprehensive chart for the 

 blossoming of the lilac, Syringa vulgaris, throughout Europe is given by 

 Ihne in the " Botainsches Centralblatt," vol. xxi., 1885, No. 3). 



3. Special charts for as many regions as possible, especially those with 

 a variety of soil. (See the excellent chart of the neighbourhood of 

 Frankfort by J. Ziegler in the " Berichte der Senskeub. naturf Gesell- 

 schaft in Frankfort, 1882-83.") 



4. Extension of the network oj observations j a large part of Europe is 

 still unknown from a phenological point of view. 



5. Influence of transplantation on the phases ; eg. from the higher 

 mountains to lower elevations ; from south to north, and the reverse ; 

 especially in reference to the wild plants, and their descendants in 

 cultivation (capacity for adaptation). 



Scheme for Phenological Observations. 



Mean succession of phases at Giessen to the end of 1883 ; Marl- 

 borough and Swaffham to 1 884. ( i ) First blossoms open at various places ; 

 (2) first leaf-surface visible, commencement of unfolding of leaves ; (3) 

 first fruit ripe (with berries a definite colouring) ; (4) general (autumn) 

 colouring of the foliage, more than half of all the leaves coloured. Daily 

 observation is necessary, in close proximity to the station : — 



