EFFECT OF FROSTS OF WINTER OF 191 6-17 ON VEGETATION. 399 
with those experienced during other winters ? (3) How long did 
the frosts last ? 
" The rain-gauge, which also need not be expensive to ensure 
accuracy, will give information as to the relative dryness of the soil, 
and inferentially, in conjunction with the temperature, information 
respecting the probable condition of plant-life — its ripeness, amount 
of sap, &c. — factors which are of importance when the continued 
effect of abnormal temperature is being considered. 
" But before dealing in detail with the weather of the winter as 
described in the schedules it is desirable to take a brief retrospect of 
that of the preceding summer. This was by no means an exception- 
ally warm season ; indeed the early part of it was decidedly cool, and 
vegetation was retarded in consequence ; but by the middle of July 
the temperature had become normal again, and August was through- 
out warmer than the average, and was followed by decidedly mild 
weather which continued till near the close of November. This un- 
usual warmth will probably account for the remarks made on several 
of the schedules respecting unusual ' sappy n ess,' and continued growth 
of many plants until quite late in the year, and right up to the time 
when it was abruptly checked by the advent of severe frost. This 
point is emphasized in many of the schedules ; as is also another, to 
which some gardeners appear to attach even more importance, namely 
the effect of the strong, keen winds by which in many districts the 
frosts were accompanied. One note speaks of wind as ' our chief 
enemy ' ; another says that ' with the bitter winds . . . the frost 
was more destructive than when the thermometer gave even lower 
readings ' in calm weather ; and yet another has it that ' but for 
the wind we could laugh at frost ! ' 
" The duration of the frost, the third question to which a definite 
answer was asked for, and a point of importance, elicited replies 
which were in some cases mutually contradictory, again owing, as we 
think, to the absence of a written record. In three returns from one 
county, whose topographical features are fairly uniform from end 
to end, and over which the climatic conditions could have varied but 
little, the frost is said to have lasted (1) ' practically the winter 
through ' ; (2) from the beginning of January to the middle of 
February,' say six weeks ; and (3) ' from a fortnight to three weeks ' ; 
a variation of estimate which well illustrates the risk run in trusting 
to the unaided memory. But generally speaking the replies to this 
question given in the schedules are too vague to be of much use. 
" Coming now to deal with the general results of this inquiry as 
to the severity of the winter 1916-17, as revealed by all the evidence 
available, we may say that the last three months of 1916 formed 
a fitting close to a year which had, on the whole, been dull and wet, 
and more or less stormy, throughout — a typically unfavourable year 
for the horticulturist ! Storminess was the outstanding feature of 
October ; but with the strong south-west winds which prevailed the 
temperature kept rather above the average right through the month, 
