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J. HOPKINSON-PHENOLOGICAL PHENOMENA 
late; and of the last 20, from 6th June to 25th July, O’6 early; 
showing that, to a much greater extent even than in 1885, a very 
similar year, vegetation was much the most backward in the early 
spring, not one-third as backward towards the end of spring, and 
slightly forward in the early part of summer. 
Taking each 10 species in succession, there is a very decided 
difference in the state of backwardness in the first three groups, 
rapidly lessening from one group to the other; the change, which 
throughout is in the same direction, not being quite so great from 
the third to the fourth group, still less from that to the fifth, and 
again increasing from that to the sixth. The average for February 
(22nd Jan. to 9th March) is 20*9 days late; for March (13th March 
to 20th April) 13'9; for April (21st April to 15th May) 7*6; for 
May (16th May to 3rd June) 3*9 ; for June (5th to 21st) 2*4 ; and 
for July (24th June to 25th July) 3*7 days early. 
Of the first 10 species the 2 flowering in January averaged 6*5 
days late, the 4 in February 28*7 days late, and the 4 in March 
20*3 days late. January was cold and February was still colder, 
having a mean temperature but one degree above freezing. The 
extreme lateness of vegetation in February and the early part of 
March is thus fully accounted for. Our Harpenden observer says 
that there in February “vegetation was exceedingly dormant; 
although the weather during the first week was fair, yet the 
remainder of the month was so gloomy and foggy, with severe 
frosts, and so little bright sunshine, that under many of the 
hedges in the neighbourhood, snow, which fell on the 6th of 
January, was to be seen nnmelted at the end of February.” Hot 
one of the four species which usually flower in February came out 
within that month; and of these the lesser celandine (2) was a 
month late, and the sweet violet (10) and dog’s mercury (70) were 
between five and six weeks late. 
Of the second group of 10 species the 6 usually flowering in 
March were 17*0 days late, and the 4 flowering in April were 9 2 
days late. March was a very cold month, and very dull and humid, 
but the cold was not so exceptional as in February. The result 
appears in a slightly lesser backwardness of vegetation in the last 
fortnight of March and a considerably lesser backwardness in the 
first fortnight of April. Four of the six March species this year 
flowered in April, and the other two on the 30th and 31st of 
March respectively. 
Of the third group the 4 species which flower within the month 
of April averaged 8*5 days late, and the 6 which flower in May 
averaged 7*2 days late. April had about an average mean tem¬ 
perature, but the effect of the previous cold weather is still 
apparent in the backward state of vegetation. At Harpenden our 
observer states that “on the 1st of May vegetation was about 
as advanced as it ordinarily is in the first week of April. It is 
true,” he adds, “the swallow was seen at Harpenden on the 18th 
of April and the nightingale on the 25th, other spring birds 
arriving not more than a week late; but a better index than 
