196 
PHENOLOGICAL PHENOMENA IN 1883 . 
flower in sheltered places.” At Harpenden “ during the early part 
of April large numbers of worms were observed dead, having left 
their holes, and, owing to the dry and firm nature of the surface- 
soil, being unable to find them again. Innumerable quantities of 
small garden slugs {? Limax agrestis) were feeding on the 
worm-carcases.” 
Of the species for May, 6 come into flower within it, their average 
date being 2 days late; and 4 in the first three days of June, 
averaging 1 day early. May was the least humid month in the 
year, though a fair amount of rain fell. A sudden change from 
cold to warm weather in the early part of the month had no evident 
effect on vegetation until June. At High Wych the lilac (39) was 
“in bloom, but not generally out” on the date given. By the 
end of the month the foliage of the majority of our trees and shrubs 
was fully out, and generally luxuriant. 
As the mean date of flowering of all the species tabulated for 
June is within the month, it will suffice to state that the first five 
averaged nearly 2 days early, and the second five, 5 days early, 
showing a gradually-increasing acceleration from May. The 
temperature in June was about the average. At Harpenden “ oats 
came into ear on the 9th, and the first expanded wheat was 
observed on the 10th.” 
Bor July we have 5 species flowering in June, and they averaged 
10 days early, while the 5 flowering in July averaged only 4 days 
early, showing an approach as usual to a normal state towards the 
middle of summer. July, however, was a very cold month, with 
much rain, the only warm and dry weather being within the first 
few days, so that, had not vegetation been very forward at its com¬ 
mencement, plants would probably have come into flower later 
instead of earlier than usual. At Harpenden “the heavy rains 
and somewhat wild winds broke down the corn in places, particu¬ 
larly where the crops were dense, and there was a tendency to 
mildew in the wheat grain, owing to comparative lack of sun¬ 
shine.” This breaking-down of the corn crops was indeed only 
too general in Hertfordshire, or at least in the western part of the 
county. At Hertford there were “ no beech nuts at all,” and both 
beech and hazel nuts were generally scarce. 
For the remainder of the year there are not a sufficient number 
of observations to draw definite conclusions, but the few records in 
August and September tend to show that vegetation continued to 
be rather more forward than usual. 
