June, 1890.] eluott society. 241 



as this. On March 2d, 3d, and 9th the mercmy fell below the freezing point. 

 The folio wing is a record of the minimum temperature for the month of March 

 from 1874 to 1890, inclusive: 



1874, 



37°, 



1875, 



35°, 



1876, 



28^ 



1877, 



32°, 



1878, 



41°, 



1879, 



35^ 



1880, 



40°, 



1881, 



33°, 



1882, 



40^ 



1883, 



36°, 



1884, 



34°, 



1885, 



34°, 



1886, 



30°, 



1887, 



34°, 



1888, 



30^ 



1889, 



34°, 



1890, 



25°. 







As remarkable as was the departure of temperature from the normal for the 

 six months ending April 30th, 1890, the deficiency in rainfall for the same period 

 ^as no less extraordinary. In January the deficiency was 2.93 inches; in Feb- 

 ruary it was 2.31 inches; in March 2.46 inches; and in April 1.87 inch, making 

 a total deficiency of rainfall, from January 1st to April 30th, of 9.57 inches as 

 compared with the normal precipitation for the past fifteen years. 



A glance over these figures will show at once that the unfavorable effect of 

 the season upon plant life has been due mainly, if not entirely, to the abnor- 

 mal excess of temperature during the Winter months, and the sudden and un- 

 usual deficiency of temperature in the month of March, aided no doubt by the 

 accompanjdug deficiency in precipitation. 



Going back as far as November 1st, 1889, the period when vegetation usually 

 enters upon its period of rest, and the life giving sap ceases its activity, we find 

 an excess of temperature for the month of 76°, and an excess of rainfall, over 

 the normal for fifteen years, of 4. 20 inches. Heat and moisture, the two most 

 important conditions for the development of all organic life being present, the 

 plants postponed their retirement from active life and put on a new growth. 



In December f oUomng. instead of the asual withdrawal of heat to be expec- 

 ted in that month, the excess of temperature was 276^^, as compared with the 

 normal for fifteen years, Thus from month to month plant life was prevented 

 from passing into a dormant state, and in the early part of February Tea roses, 

 especially those of a climbing habit, were in full bloom, two months and a half 

 in advance of their usual blooming period. In fact it may be truly said that, 

 from the Spring of 1889, to the early part of March, 1890, Charleston gardens 

 were continuously in bloom, with the exception of about two weeks in Novem- 

 ber, 1889. 



The Hybrid or Remontant type of roses bloom, with some few exceptions, 

 only once a year, and their usual blooming period, in Charleston, is from April 

 15 to May 15. They are deciduous plants and, as a rule, do not put forth theii* 

 new leaves until awakened from their loug sleep by the boisterous winds of the 

 vernal equinox. But during the past season Eemontant roses put forth their 

 new shoots in December, and a few varieties, such as John Hopper and Paul 

 Neyron, put forth a few blooms in February. By the 1st of March the plants 

 VOL. II. 31 rublished Feb.. 1891. 



