MARCH. 79 



GOSSIP. 



"We find that the effects of the late cold weather have been felt 

 much more severely in some localities than in others. The same 

 plants that have entirely escaped in some parts, are, to all appearance, 

 killed in others. Taxodium sempervirens, at Dropmore, is as green 

 and beautiful as if we had not experienced any cold weather. At 

 Dropmore they have a dry, gravelly bottom, so that their Conifers 

 and other plants ripen their growth early, and thus escape injury. 

 In some parts of Surrey, and several other places, we are informed 

 that this plant (the Taxodium) has a very brown appearance, and is 

 much injured by frost. 



The Cryptomeria japonica does not appear to be greatly injured, 

 but in some places it is much discoloured. The different effects of 

 the frost on more common shrubs is very remarkable. About Wind- 

 sor, Eton, and for some miles round, the Sweet Bay appears to be the 

 only shrub much injured; whilst in Cambridgeshire we have seen 

 Laurel hedges, from fifteen to twenty years old, cut to the ground; 

 Bays and Laurustinus sharing the same fate. Portugal Laurels 

 also are very much browned in the same locality, and evergreen 

 Oaks had lost all their leaves, and to all appearance were dead; but 

 there is no doubt that they will break again. In the neighbourhood 

 of Norwich many things show the severity of the late winter, and 

 very few Portugal Laurels have a green leaf upon them. Sweet Bays, 

 Aucubas, and Laurustinus were nearly as bad ; but the most remark- 

 able instance that came under our notice was a piece of Deodars 

 about two feet high. These were completely cut to the ground. In 

 Wiltshire it has been keenly felt among shrubs, as well as in some 

 districts round the metropolis. Before destroying any plants that 

 may appear dead, it will be as well to wait a little, in order to ascer- 

 tain if there is any chance of their breaking again, which many 

 shrubs doubtless will do. 



The fine Pinetum at Dropmore has escaped without injury; but 

 at Elvaston considerable damage has been done. It will be some 

 time before we arrive at the extent of the injury sustained generally. 



Since our last Number, the Horticultural Society has published 

 its list of prizes to be awarded in 1854; and Ave regret to learn that it 

 is such as the great body of exhibitors is disappointed with. There 

 are great changes and considerable reductions. Several subjects 

 that formerly received prizes are entirely omitted. Fruit growers 

 have nothing to guide them, all is left to chance, and a very poor 

 one it mil be to the exhibitor. Should an exhibitor in this class be 

 fortunate enough to obtain a medal under the new rule, he will not 

 know if he is JiJ'st, second, or thh^d. If the Society is poor, and cannot 

 afford to dq otherwise, it is much to be regretted; but we must be 

 permitted to say that we thii:ik the aggregrate amount could have 

 been better divided, and that to recruit the finances of the Society, 

 a very injudicious step has been taken, a step in the wrong direction. 

 A little liberality might have regained the prestige the Chiswick 



