184 ON THE EFFECTS OF THE SEVERE FEOST AND 



been sustained by many of the fine specimens of choice new 

 conifers and other evergreen shnibs. Tliere the coldest niuhts 

 experienced were the 25tli December and 14th March, on both 

 of wdiich occasions the thermometer was observed to indicate 

 zero ; and on the 15th March the bright sunshine caused most of 

 the havoc. Hollies in open sites stood well, but two plants very 

 much sheltered by surrounding shrubs and much exposed to the 

 sun, were killed to the ground. Walnut trees of 15 feet to 

 20 feet in height have had their previous year's growth killed ; 

 and some laburnums have suffered severely. In this situation 

 and district, the winter of 1878-79 cannot be compared to that 

 of 1860-61 in severity, for more damage was done in the last- 

 named season ; but more injury has been done in 1878-79 than 

 by the severe winter of 1874-75. The wet summer of 1879 

 will compare with that of 1872 ; and it is to be feared that, from 

 want of sunshine and continued rain, the growths of the injured 

 but surviving victims of last winter, being badly ripened, will pro- 

 bably succumb, and, should tlie approaching winter be a severe 

 one, these plants will fall to be added to the list of fatal cases.* The 

 following is a list of the casualties last winter and spring in this 

 situation and district, as observed in September last, after the 

 summer's growth had fullv divulged the extent of the effects of 

 the severe season : — 



Wellingtonia gigantea (30 feet high) — Very much bro'WTiecl, but now break- 

 ing afresh. 



JFellingtonia gigantea variegnta (6 feet) — Looking very sickly. 



(Jedrus Deodara (12 to 18 feet) — All hut killed ; some killed outright. 



Picea Nordmanniana (8 feet) — Slightly lirowned in centre. 



Cryptomeria Goveniana (9 feet) — Killed. 



Thuja aurea (3 feet) — Dead. 



Cryptomeria elegans (4 feet) — Lost its top shoot. 



Lihocedrus Ghinensis nana (1 foot) — Dead. 



Cedriis Deodara viridis (6 feet) — Much injured ; since dead. 



Taxodium sempervirens (30 feet) — Lost its top, and branches of young 

 wood cut back several inches, hiit again breaking afresh at neck of 

 branches next main stem. 



Picea Albertiana (12 feet) — Looking sickly ; lost its top. 



Cedrus Libani (6 feet) — Dead. 



Many spruces very much browned, and shedchng their leaves. 



Cupressus Lambertiana (8 feet) — Killed. 



Pinus pinsapo (6 feet) — Lost its leader, and voung wood of last vear 

 killed. 



J'lmiperus recurva (6 feet) — Dead. 



Taxus japonica (3 feet) — Dead. 



The Ctipressus Lawsoninna were here very slightly singed, and 

 have thrown it off. Aucnha Japonica is very sickly looking, the 

 foliage being perfectly shrivelled up, but it is sprouting again at 

 the base of the stem. Numbers of the common bay and Portugal 



* This has unfortunately been the case. The winter of 1879-80 has entirely 

 killed many (if the specimens referred to. — E. li. 



