58 EFFECTS OF THE SEVERE WINTER OF 1854-5 UPON 



II. — 0)1 the Effects of the Severe Winter of 1854-5 upon Evergreen 

 Vegetation in the North of England. By Ralph Carr, Esq. 



[Read, at the Anniversar3' Meeting, November 15, 1855.] 



The autumn of 1854 had been unusually dry. Not only was 

 there an absence of the rains, which characterise our climate at 

 the end of harvest, but the pastures and turnip fields were not 

 refreshed by the heavy dews so frequent at the same season in 

 ordinary years. The soil in the stubbles and turnip fields was 

 dusty till far on in November. For many weeks the winds had 

 been easterly. We experienced, indeed, the autumn of the north 

 of Germany, from whence these winds blew ; and the event 

 proved that the winter of the same region was to extend itself to 

 England. 



Up to nearly the middle of January, 1855, there was no severe 

 frost or heavy snow, but at that time snow began to fall, and to 

 accumulate rapidly, but accompanied with very little wind. 

 Indeed, throughout this winter there was a remarkable absence 

 of violent winds and of snow-drift. The frost soon attained 

 great intensity. In situations of moderate elevation (200 or 300 

 feet above the sea), Fahrenheit's thermometer, against a north 

 wall, frequently stood at from 14 down to 10, at eight o'clock 

 in the morning ; that is, at about 20° of that instrument below 

 the freezing point of 32°. In situations near to streams, and in 

 hollows, where hoar-frost was abundant, the temperature was 

 doubtless much lower. The frost went on increasing until about 

 the 14th or 16th of February, when it reached its greatest inten- 

 sity, Fahrenheit's thermometer being then observed to mark only 

 1 or 2 degrees, or about 30 degrees below the freezing point. At 

 Chillingham, 6° of cold below Fahrenheit's 0° were indicated 

 (being 38° below his freezing point) on a self-registering instru- 

 ment, which extended no lower ; and at Lilburn, a very superior 

 instrument indicated 9 degrees below Fahrenheit's 0°, showing, 

 therefore, 41° below freezing. Although subsequently to this 

 time the intensity of the cold began to relax, and within a week 

 or two partial thaws were experienced, a large portion of the 

 country continued to be under snow throughout March. April 



