136 THE FLORIST. 



of Coniferae. The following are those which have suffered most: — 

 Cupressus torulosa, dead ; Araucarias, from 1 to 20 feet high, majority 

 dead, others much bro\Mied ; Deodars, mostly as leafless as the Larch ; 

 Pinus Sabiniana and Upright Cypress, much injured ; Laurustinus, 

 killed to the ground ; Arbutus much cut, and common shrubs gene- 

 rally the same. Abies Douglasi has not been injured, but the trees 

 do not look so healthy as at Dropmore, where the Douglas Fir grows 

 rapidly, though on a much inferior soil to that at Elvaston. The 

 famed Araucaria at Elvaston has been much bro^^^led, and is not to be 

 compared mth the tree * at Dropmore, which is a much finer specimen. 

 In reference to the effect of the winter on the above, I may remark 

 that at Dropmore neither the Deodars nor Araucarias have a leaf 

 injured. Pinus patula (generally reputed a tender one) is a little 

 browTied, as is the Arbutus, but nothing is killed, as far as can be seen 

 at present. Dropmore is situate much higher than Elvaston ; and does 

 this exemption from injury of the Dropmore trees, as compared with 

 the same kinds at Elvaston, during the last winter, arise from this 

 cause ? Can the injury done at Elvaston be owing to the wet and 

 sunless summer of last year, which did not mature the ripening of the 

 wood, in addition to their growing in a low flat situation ? Dropmore, 

 being very high, has more cold winds during the summer months, and 

 most likely the wood is better ripened. P. F. 



[Our readers will find our views on the above question in a pre- 

 ceding page, written before our correspondent's letter reached us ; they 

 are the result of our own observatioi], confirmed by the experience of 

 others, of which the above communication from our valued corrre- 

 spondent affords evidence. No doubt exists in our minds that the 

 different powers of withstanding the effects of severe frost between the 

 plants of Elvaston and Dropmore arises from the difference of situa- 

 tion ; Elvaston is low, flat, and humid, with a rich soil, all tending to 

 promote a quick succulent growth, which the late wet season has no 

 doubt accelerated ; while Dropmore, being an elevated situation, with a 

 gi'avelly subsoil, has a drier soil and air, and hence the comparative 

 hardiness of the trees named by our correspondent.] 



NOTES ON VEGETABLES. 



Snoio's Winter Broccoli. Tliis surpasses any we know for its useful 

 properties ; coming in in November, it will last, with management, till 

 February, the quality approaching very near to a Cauliflower. Two 

 sowings should be made for a succession, one about the end of April, 

 and the other about the middle of May. If frost is at all appre- 

 hended, take up the plants and lay them in by the heels in a dry place ; 

 cover them in frosty weather with clean dry straw, they will in this 

 form keep good a long time, uncovering them to prevent their damping 

 when the weather is mild. 



* This tree is figured in the January Number of the Florist. 



