78 THE EFFECTS OF THE SEVERE FROST OF THE 



open ground. During the previous winter, 1878-79, nearly all 

 the large oaks at a lower altitude than fifty feet above the bed 

 of the river Teviot had all the young wood of the previous 

 season's growth killed, and owing to their weakened condition 

 thereby induced, the winter of 1879-80 has proved so severe 

 that many of them are now almost entirely dead, several 

 actually so. These were trees from fifty to eighty and a 

 hundred years old, and hitherto quite healthy. One or two, at 

 the date of his report (June 3rd, 1880) were attempting to push 

 out a few buds and twigs from the main trunk, but others ap- 

 peared altogether dead or dying off. Spanish chestnuts, of 

 similar age and size, are also severely injured, and present 

 the same declining appearance. Walnut trees are likewise dead. 

 Sycamore and large ash trees are also very severely injured. 

 Common laburnums in the open ground are dead, and Samhucus 

 nigra is killed to the snow-line or ground. Araucaria wihricata, 

 Cedrus deodara, Cu2oressus lavjsoniana, common and Irish yews, 

 tree box, Libocedrus dectcrrens, and hybrid rhododendrons, and 

 all varieties of ivy, are entirely killed. Wellingtonia gigantea, 

 Picea jyi'i^sapo, Aticiiba japonica, and tree peony, common and 

 Portugal laurels, RibcSy Berheris, Jasminum, quince, Wistccria, 

 and all the Virginian creepers, excepting Veitchii, are dead to 

 the ground or snow-line. It is worthy of remark that this 

 variety of Vitis virginiana, or Ampelojms, viz., Vitis veitchii and 

 Ampclopsis tricusjndata, has proved so hardy during last winter 

 both here and in other places, as it is one of the recent intro- 

 ductions from Japan, and is a further testimony to the extreme 

 hardihood of the natives of that country, and their suitability for 

 more extended introduction in Great Britain. 



At King's Meadows, near Peebles, and adjacent to the mists 

 that rise from the Tweed, in low-lying situations, the thermo- 

 meter was 12° below zero, and many shrubs of every variety, 

 usually hardy in this and such like sites, are all but irretrievably 

 lost. Tall Lombardy poplars close to the river side at Peebles, 

 having suffered very much from the previous winter, 1878-79, 

 have entirely succumbed to the severity of 1879-80. 



At Dalkeith Palace Gardens (alt. 18U feet), Mr. Dunn informs 

 us that many shrubs on the walls and in the open have been 

 much injured. Aucidjct japonica suffered very much where ex- 

 posed to the sun by day, but on dry ground, with northerly and 

 north-western aspect, they are comparatively uninjured. Laurus 

 nobilis cut down to the ground. Berheris leali killed to ground. 

 In low lying spots and damp soils common broom is killed. 

 Darpline p)onticurii in damp places is also dead. Erica medi- 

 terranea, Eucalyiotus glohdus, 25 feet in height, planted out last 

 year, Euonymus, Elceagmis reflexa are all killed. Esccdlonia mac- 

 rantlm is much injured. Eurya latifolia variegata. is killed 



