90 PROCEEDINGS OF SOCIETIES. 



of cold, as indicated by the thermometer in 1814 ; but from the effect produced on 

 the water of the Nore, we may fairly infer that it was as low as in this year. Why, 

 then, it may be asked, had it not the same effect on vegetable life? I would 

 answer this question by saying, that, from all I can learn, the frost in 1814 did not 

 continue long ; it was, also, preceded by a very heavy fall of snow, which lay so 

 deep on the ground as to impede the travelling of coaches between Kilkenny and 

 Dublin for the space of three weeks. Again, the severe weather in 1814 commenced 

 on the first day of January, at which season the sap in plants would be more 

 dormant ; and, consequently, less liable to injury from frost than in the middle of 

 February. Another cause why the frost of 1814 was less injurious to plants than 

 that of 1855 may be found, if we assume that the frost in the former year followed 

 a cold autumn, as I need hardly tell you, that the frost in this year succeeded a 

 very mild season, so much so, that the beautiful scarlet blossoms of the Pyrna 

 Japonica might be seen contrasted with their snowy covering, from which they 

 peeped out, until blighted by repeated attacks of frost. 



This allusion to a Japan plant reminds me that I may safely say, from observa- 

 tion, that plants from Japan have withstood the effects of the frost better than 

 most others, a peculiarity which, in addition to their great beauty, ought to recom- 

 mend them to those planting. A striking proof of the hardy nature of Japan 

 plants may be seen in front of Dr. Kearns r s house on the parade, where an arbutus 

 and gold plant have been growing for many years the former (said to be indigenous 

 to Ireland, being found growing wild at Killarney) is completely killed, the latter 

 (a native of Japan) remains quite green and untouched by the frost. The aspect 

 of Dr. Kearns's house is north-east. 



As I have already, in quoting from Mr. White, given you the names of some of 

 the more common evergreens which have been destroyed, I will now mention those 

 which he says withstood the severity of the frost ; he says "To the great credit of 

 Portugal laurels and American junipers, be it remembered, that they remained 

 untouched amidst the general havoc." During the late frost, Portugal laurels have 

 suffered very little; and, if for American juniper we may read American arbor- vitas, 

 I know of no evergreen that has escaped so well. As I purpose attaching to these 

 notes lists of plants, under the heads of " killed" and "injured," I have not em- 

 bodied them in my paper. 



A careful examination of a large number of shrubs leads me to state, that old 

 and well-grown plants withstand the effects of frost better than smaller and younger 

 specimens of the same kind ; it appears as if the frost completely penetrated the 

 pores and dried up the sap of small branches. 



The late severe weather has been indirectly very fatal to birds, as whilst the 

 earth was covered with snow, or bound up by hard frost, their supply of food was 

 equally shut up from them ; the consequence was, that great numbers of birds 

 perished from starvation more than from cold, particularly those sweet songsters 

 blackbirds and thrushes. I have, also, heard that Avant of food made the common 

 rooks carnivorous, as they have been seen devouring small birds. J only observed 

 one strange bird during the frost ; it was a specimen of the gray wagtail, not un- 

 common in other parts of Ireland, but certainly rare in this locality. I fear, how- 

 ever, that the cold or want of food has deprived us of one of our most graceful 

 birds, the yellow wagtail, as I miss them from a spot which I have known 

 a pair to frequent for several years. The cold had, also, the effect of retarding 

 the singing of birds, as the chaffinch did not begin to sing until the 22nd 

 of February ; for many years I have remarked that it invariably sang about 

 the 12th. 



To the late severe weather we may also attribute the great mortality which has, 

 unfortunately, prevailed in many flocks, as in too many cases farmers, encouraged 

 by the general mildness of our winters, had neglected to provide food, suitable to 

 the emergencies of an exceptional winter. 



SHRUBS KILLED. Cypress, Aristotelia, Arbutus, Bay, Eschalonia rubra, Tree 

 Lupine, Furze (common and upright), Cytisus (budded on laburnum), Crimson 

 China Rose, White Noisette Rose, Rosemary, Leycesteria formosa, Phylerea, 

 Mediterranean Heath, Laurustinus, Chinese Privet, Photinia serrulata, Edwardsia 

 (on a wall), and Clianthus (on a wall). 



