1 p.m. very well. I made several observations from Chardstock House. The day was cold and raw; wind light, from N.E.; cloudy. The eclipse was seen well between the breaks in the light clouds. The summer of 1912 beats any record for wet and cold and no sunshine; 1879 was the last very wet summer, but not to be compared with 1912. Floods and wet in Dorsetshire, Somersetshire, Wiltshire, and Norfolk from May to September, 1912. A good deal of thunder and wind, abnormally cold and wet from May to September. [From Meteorological Notes from E. S. Rodd's Daily Journal of Natural History and County Events of 40 years' close observation at Chardstock House, Dorsetshire-1872 to 1912.]

The wettest August in England on record; and much damage caused by floods, especially in Huntingdon and Norfolk. Fine cold September; October was warm and bright; lovely English autumnal weather up to 14th. Plenty of "Eddish" in the pastures everywhere. Partridges very patchy; ditto pheasants; hundreds drowned in the wet weather. Cubs very plentiful. Cows and calves high price, and more stock selling at good fair prices. Had my last dish of green peas on November 1st, grown in the open kitchen garden at Chardstock House. Potatoes not a good crop, but fairly sound. Roots fair, but no plant life has had sun or warmth enough this year, 1912. Apples and peas a fair crop, and abundant year for nuts and blackberries. Very few mushrooms, oddly enough, about here this wet season. Garden flowers have not done well, except sweet peas and begonias, which like much rain. I think the good nut and berry year may be owing to the wood in many trees and shrubs being thoroughly ripened during 1911, when we had a hot, dry summer. December 24th, 25th, 26th, 27th a heavy gale of wind from the S.W. and torrents of rain fell at times. Weather very mild; I have not observed the barometer so low for a very long time. On Dec. 31st I saw a field of wheat in "stitch" near Yarcombe Village returning from hunting. The year 1912 kept its character up to the end, and ended in wet, mild weather.

PULHAM (J. R.).—On the whole a very wet year, but some intervals of drought. From Sept. 1st to 28th practically no rain-only slight drizzle on two or three days.

Thunder, March 5th; on 8th, heavy peal; May 12th, June 19th, 30th, a little; June 12th, very violent for 11⁄2 hours, no rain; July 4th, heavy; 5th and Aug. 10th and 20th, slight; Oct. 25th, a little. On Dec. 26th a furious gale, very heavy rains, few peals of thunder.

Snow, Jan. 12th, heavy, quite six inches deep. Some very sharp frosts.

Since the dry summer of 1911 squirrels have disappeared. They used to come to be fed at my windows. In adjoining districts, also, they have almost, or quite, disappeared. It would be interesting to know the cause. Was it want of

water or disease?

On last day of 1912 (and for many weeks previously) we could gather bunches of primroses. At end of year also there were white violets in bloom, and many lesser celandine. I never saw such a profusion of apple blossom and hawthorn blossom as in 1912. Leaves were lost in bloom.

Barometer reading: average for each month and for the year: -January, 29 295; highest, 302; lowest, 28.825. February, 29.285; highest, 29.82; lowest, 28.59. March, 29-431 ; highest, 300; lowest, 28-45. April, 29.89; highest, 30-15; lowest, 29-46. May, 29-63; highest, 30-02; lowest, 29-12. June, 29-53; highest, 29-84; lowest, 29-12. July, 29-62; highest, 29.87; lowest, 29.31. August, 29-451; highest, 29.85; lowest, 28.9. September, 29.837; highest, 30.12; lowest, 29.05. October, 29-497; highest, 32-6; highest, 32-6; lowest, 29.0. November, 29-17; highest, 30-07; lowest, 29.925. December, 29.58; highest, 30-025; lowest, 28-71. Average for the year, 29-518; highest, 32-6; lowest, 28-45.

Lists of the dates of First Appearances and First Flowerings are appended, as well as particulars of the prize exhibits of barley, wheat, and oats for 1912, furnished by Rev. James Cross, of Sturminster Marshall.

EARLIEST DORSET RECORDS OF PLANTS IN FLOWER IN 1912-(continued).

L. First leaf.

F. First flower.

(1) Many in flower at end of 1912 (J. R.). (2) In flower 12 days before Jan. 1, 1912 (J. R.). (3) Specimens found_in
flower on Dec. 23, 1912 (J. M. J. F.). (4) One specimen on Jan. 13. Another found by school children, Jan. 22 (J. M. J. F.).
(5) Exceedingly plentiful (J. R.). (6) In flower Mar. 17 between Blandford and Cranborne (W. P. C.). (7) Fully out in
Bere Wood, Ap. 27 (W. P. C.).

NOTES.-WEYMOUTH-Viburnum lantana in flower AD. 12 (N. M. R.). BUCKHORN WESTON-Viola canina, first flower, Ap. 3.
Spotted Orchis, May 24 (W. H. D.). BERE WOOD-5 primroses found Jan. 3 (W. P. C.). EDMONDSHAM-Mushrooms appeared
this year in fair quantity during the latter part of May and the early part of June; but at the usual season the common
mushroom was entirely absent, though many other fungi were as plentiful as usual (E. F. L.). WOOL-Marsh marigolds in
bloom considerably in the Wool meadows during December (S. E. V. F.).