Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1920-10-27
RARE FALL DAYS .
HELP VEGETATION \
Botanical Director OF Natural
Science academy Says Mild
Weather Is Boon
BLISS GIVES EXPLANATION

The continued warm weather OF this
autumn. has been boon to vegetation,
according to Stewardson Brown, cura-
tor and botanical director Of the Acad-
emy Of Natural Sciences.
The favorable ground conditions
brought about by the summer rainy sea-
son, the warm dry weather Of septem-
ber and this month have not only caused
vegetation Of all kinds to flourish now.
but have provided the basis for a won
derful spring and summer, says the
curator.
'"Trees, bushes, Towering and vese-
table plants have become so vigorous
and have stored 30 much nourishment
from the roots up that they are pre-.
pared for almost any winter conditions,
providing they get a share Of the nor
NAL fall rain," said Mr.. Brown.
Summer Rain Helped
while the rain of the summer sat
urated the ground to the point where
1t provided nourishment for long
time for plants, the unusually dry
weather following has prevented them
from Towering to a harmful degree.
All forms Of vegetation have thus been
enabled to become better rooted and
constitutionally better fitted to 90 into
the spring In the best condition in years.
In the meantime we have noted q
spring and early summer like growth of
vegetation and an almost entire ab-
sence Of the sere and yellow autumn.
Trees are not shedding their leaves as
heretofore, and instead of, the brown
and russet tinted October foliage, we
have the verdure Of spring.
Roses of many varieties are in full
bloom, almost up to the June standard.
Dahlias and cosmos are blooming up to
the last bud. The home gardener, who
| took chance on late planting, is reap =
ing his harvest. Corn, beans and all
other forms Of garden truck, which nor
mally should have been done some time
ago, are being yielded by the ground in
great quantities. Tomatoes are almost
as plentiful as in midseason.
Even fruit is yielding at an un =
usually heavy rate. Some species OF
Strawberries and raspberries are to be
found in gardens in full fruit. The
trees and bushes which are not actually
yielding are benefiting by the warm
weather because they are enabled to re :
cuperate from the heavy drain on their
resources made by the gathering of the
fruit crop.
Frost Would Be Bad
''If sudden frost should come be-
fore the ground has gotten q reason :
able amount of moisture from eoui.
noctial storms, it would be bad and
would keep vegetation from reaping the
full! harvest Of the extraordinary con.
ditions now prevailing. But even al
that it would not be fatal" ...
| George Bliss, meteorologist in charge
of the Weather Bureau here, stated
that a continuance of the unusua
weather was likely for time at least
There will be break tonight to
ward normal October weather. sale
Mr.. Bliss, but indications are that II
will only last for forty eight hours ant
then we will have a gradual return tt
present weather.
The abnormal weather is primaril.
due to the near presence Of high
barometric are of the southeastern
coast Of the country. This area, which
lies in about latitude 80 and may b,
shifts about the Atlantic ocean from
1t generally moves slowly and stays fcl
some time in a particular section.
'Its continued presence near ou
coast, coupled with the presence Of ,
temporary high area in the southern
part Of the country, has given US thi
present remarkable weather. TIL,
peculiar thing about it to the lay mint
Is that 1t doesn't affect the South 8,
much, but rather, this section Of .th
country, AS long as these areas per
sist near us we shall have the presen
weather. A shifting of them is likel!
to plunge us into the other extreme.
'aThe whole condition has been eI
tremely favorable to vegetation and evel
the coming of frost will do no par
ticulsr harm. Vegetation has becom
too strongly intrenched to be affecte'
unfavorably now and we can safel
look forward to a wonderful spring an
summer season for it."