230 
J. HOPKINSOX—PHENOLOGICAL PHEXOMEXA 
The general result of the observations of the time of flowering of 
plants, as recorded in the accompanying table,*' is to show that 
1884 may he considered a decidedly early year. 
Of the 60 species mentioned in the previous report as trustworthy 
tests of the state of vegetation from the end of January to near the 
end of July, all have been observed in 1884, so that we have now 
mean dates for this period deduced from at least 7 years’ observa¬ 
tion of every one of these species. Of these 60 species, 49 came 
into flower earlier than the mean of 1876-84, only 6 later, and 5 
on the same day as the mean, so that vegetation was evidently 
remarkably forward in 1884. The average state of forwardness 
over the mean of 1876-84 is 7 - 3 days. 
Of the 30 species which come into flower by the middle of May, 
which we consider as spring flowers, 27 showed themselves before 
the mean date, 2 after it, and 1 on the same day as the mean; and 
of the 30 which come into flower after this time, which we consider 
as summer flowers, 22 showed themselves before the mean date, 
3 after it, and 4 on the same day as the mean. The average state 
of forwardness of the spring flowers was 10-3 days, and of the 
summer flowers 4*3 days. 
Dividing the period of observation into three, as before, the 
average date of the first 20 species, from 21st January to 20th 
April, is 12 days early; of the next 20, from 21st April to 3rd June, 
6-7 days ; and of the last 20, from 5th June to 25th July, 3‘2 days; 
showing that the state of forwardness was by far the greatest in 
the early spring, little more than half as much towards the end of 
spring, and little more than one-fourth as much in the early part 
of summer. 
Taking each 10 species which are nearly coincident in their 
average date of flowering with each month from February to July, 
there is a gradual retardation in the state of forwardness except 
towards the close of the period. The average for February is 13*9 
days early, for March 10-0 days early, for April 7*0 days early, for 
May 6 - 5 days early, for June 2*3 days early, and for July 4*4 days 
early. 
Of the 10 species selected to represent February, the 2 which 
usually come into flower within the last ten days of January 
averaged 12 days early; the 5 which flower in February averaged 
16 days early ; and the 3 which usually flower in the first week 
in March averaged 11 days early, all appearing within the month 
of February. This shows a very similar state of vegetation to that 
prevailing at the same time in the previous year, and is due as then 
to the very mild winter. At Harpenden, “ owing to the unusual 
mildness and even temperature of January, many flowers, among 
* In addition to the tabulated records the following observations have been made 
at Croxley Green and its vicinity (between Watford and Eickmanswortb) by Mr. 
F. G. Lloyd:— 
2. Ranunculus Ficaria , March 9 64. Nepeta Gleclioma , March 17 
27. Prunus spinosa, ,, 16 77. Narcissus Pseudo- 
60. Veronica Chamcedrys , ,, 16 narcissus, ,, 10 
