“Everywhere a Warm, Soft Vapour Fills the Air” II

Commenced haying July 21, 1920. Rhubarb should not be taken from now on: leave one-third of leaves to carry the plant 011..

\Nild raspberries plentiful and blueberries begin to ripen, July 24, 1924: a very dry summer this year‘ with a short hay crop.

About the 25th of July is a good time to bend down onion tops: this ripens the bulbs for storage. On July 27, 1933 occurs the entry: “Perennial Flower-border at its best.” '

Gossamer spiders weave webs on grass, etc., July 28, 1921; this seems to occur before rain? On July 28, 1931, heavy rain with low temperature; 53 degrees at 11 a. m.. a depressing day.

Hottest day this summer, July 29, 1931: 88 degrees in shade at 2 pm. Warm, July 29, 1936, maximum 75 in the shade; a violent electric storm about 8 p. m.

Observed Indian Pipe (Monotropa), Pinesap (Hypopitys‘) and Round-leaved Sund‘ew (Drosera) in full bloom, July 31, 1913.

AUGUST

The first two weeks of this month may be considered as an extension of July. There is the same heat, the same humidity, the same electrical disturbances. (Every year sees houses and barns destroyed by lightning). After the 20th as a rule a cooler air pre- vails; we feel that Autumn is “just round the corner.” Insect life abates the vigorous humming that marked the period of maximum heat and its members begin to seek sheltered spots.

On the first of August is the festival called “Lammas” in the Church calendar: the “loaf-mass” being the feast of first-fruits. Our forefathers were always glad to see the new crop, for their system of. agriculture rarely had much of a carry—over, and famine

often threatened.

Aug, 1, 1930, Ruby-throat Humming-bird observed, (also on Aug. 21) ; have only seen the green (female) bird.

A group of sunspots visible on Aug. 2, 1917 were said to be 42,- 000 miles diameter. This Year 450 groups were observed: the maximum year. In 1927 there were 420 such groups and in 1936, there appeared a total of 495 groups, four of these being over 1,174 millions of square miles!

American Cow-wheat (Melampyrum) in bloom, August 4, 1915-

Pineapple Weed (Matricaria) in flower Aug. 6, 1915: this plant rather scarce then, is invading most barnyards in 1937. Wild Thyme blooms Aug. 6, 1916. VVhite—fringed Orchis (H. lacera) in bloom Aug. 6, 1917. Forest fire at Clyde River, Aug. 6, 1921; gmoke6dense at Mt, Herbert. Common Terns observed August

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