CXXXV111 PROCEEDINGS—PERTHSHIRE SOCIETY OF NATURAL SCIENCE. 
therefore iyi per 1000 of the population, as compared with 16*2 in 
1901, showing, as was to be expected, a slight increase, owing, pre¬ 
sumably, to the less favourable meteorological conditions. 
As regards the effects of these weather conditions on vegetation, 
the most remarkable feature was the lateness of the season. This 
was especially noticeable in regard to flowering shrubs, which were 
from three to four weeks late of coming into bloom. Roses, for 
instance, did not come fully out until the end of July, and they con¬ 
tinued in bloom until the beginning of November. Although late, 
they, in common with many other flowers, were particularly fine 
when they did come out. As the spring conditions were favourable, 
the hay crop was exceptionally good, w 7 hile the root crops have also 
been good, owing to the abundance of moisture. The grain crops, 
however, have scarcely been up to the average, and have been 
difficult to cut, owing to the fields being badly laid in places. 
Fruit, as a rule, has been smaller than usual, owing to the lack of 
heat. Apples and pears have been rather a poor crop, and plums 
in many places have been almost a failure. Small fruits have been 
about an average crop. The fruit on many of the forest trees, how¬ 
ever, such as the sycamore, and also on some of the conifers, has 
been rather abundant. 
Insect life has also been affected by the weather conditions. 
Most winged insects, such as bees, wasps, butterflies, flies, &c., have 
been decidedly scarcer than usual. The green-fly, on the other hand, 
has been very much in evidence, not being affected by the want of 
sunshine. 
The summer has been almost entirely free from storms, either 
wind or electrical. Of the former, the only gale of any violence 
occurred on 4th September, when the wind blew from the west, and 
did a considerable amount of damage to trees and shrubs. The only 
thunderstorm occurred on 28th August, when the disturbance, the 
centre of which appeared to be about five miles to the south of 
Perth, lasted about two hours. 
I have again to express my indebtedness to Mr. John Leslie for 
assistance in making up the meteorological statistics. 
NATURE-KNOWLEDGE. 
During the past summer I had the privilege of taking part in two 
Conferences on the subject of Science Teaching and Nature Study in 
Schools. The first of these was held at Hartley College, South¬ 
ampton, on 13th and 14th June; while the second took place in the 
Royal Botanic Gardens, London, in the last week of July, At both 
of these I was asked to read papers, giving an account of our 
experience in this direction in Perthshire, and also in connection 
with our Museum. At the London Meeting, a most interesting 
exhibition was held, giving examples of the children’s work, both at 
home and in school, and also of specimens, models, diagrams, and 
other apparatus used by the teachers in class work. The discussions 
at this Conference were taken part in by leading educational 
authorities from all parts of the country, as well as from America,. 
