[Report 1921] / Medical Officer of Health, Torquay Borough.

  • Torquay (England). Borough Council.
Date:
1921
Catalogue details

Licence: Attribution 4.0 International (CC BY 4.0)

Credit: [Report 1921] / Medical Officer of Health, Torquay Borough. Source: Wellcome Collection.

    46/56 (page 46)
    It will be observed from the Tables of Mean Temperatures that the Mean Range during January was only 7.3°F. February, 8.7°F. and November, 6.4°F., and the lowest temperature recorded was only 29.1°F., which occurred on November 13th, whilst the Mean of the Maximum and Minimum Temperatures were 48.9°F. in January, 44.6°F. in February, 49.4°F. in November, and 47.4°F. in December. These compare very favourably with Nice, where the average mean temperature for fifty years are 46.4°F. in January, 47.5°F. in February, 52-7°F. in November, and 47.3*’F in December. * A fall of snow in Torquay is very rare, and may be classed as a meteorological phenomena. On one occasion only did snow fall during the year and this was so slight as to be unobserved except by those who were out early in the morning. Frost of any severity is also a stranger to the town. This is borne out, apart from our instrumental readings, by the luxurious growth of various sub-tropical plants and shrubs. Mr. Walters, F.R.H.S., the Corporation Superintendent of Parks, informs me that “Such is the vigour of growth of some of these, that Dracena Australie has attained the height of 24 feet and the New Zealand Flax, Phormmm Tenax is 40 feet in circumference. CUanthus Punicem (The Parrot’s Beak), make fine plants and flowers profusely. The New Zealand Laurel Griselinia littoralis and its variegated form do equally well. Hohera Popnlnea, which is 14 feet high, is gloiious when in bloom. Olearias Pittosporums, and many other New Zealanders are quite at home. Of Australian plants which appear to enjoy the congenial climate, mention may be made of the Eucalyptus in many varieties, including tbe new Eucalyptus Beauchampuma, Gallistemons, Myoporum, Acacias, Mehlenheckia, whilst Grevillea rosmar ini folia blooms practically all the winter. Other sub-tropical plants which do well are Fureraca longaeva, and the Senecios from Mexico, Erngium pandanifolium from Monte Video, Eryohotrya's, Panlonia, Imperalis and Clerodebdrm -from Japan, Carpentaria CaliJ^ornica from Sierra Nevada, Benthamia Fragifera from Nepaul, and Garrya Elentica from California. Camillias and varieties of the Himalaya Rhododendrons grow freely and flower well. Habrothamnus Elegans is in bloom practically througbout the year. Plumbago Capmsis with its pale blue flowers is a beautiful sight when in bloom.