102 TRANSACTIONS, NATURAL HISTORY SOCIETY OF GLASGOW. 
the crops. The growth, thereafter, was so satisfactory that most 
crops made a full average, and were harvested in good order 
generally, except on thin, poor soils, where the plants got stunted. 
The hay crop was the notable exception in regard to bulk. In 
many instances the second cutting was superior in bulk and 
quality to the first; the harvesting of this crop along with the 
cereals was frequently seen during September. 
The effects of the intense frost on vegetation were most marked 
on evergreen shrubs and plants of succulent growth. The amount 
of loss suffered by nurserymen and others was very considerable, 
in many places whole breadths of plants were killed or seriously 
crippled. <A plant nursery after a severe winter provides object- 
lessons of great value and extreme interest to those whose province 
it is to study the planting of trees and shrubs. Many problems 
difficult of solution present themselves. Frequently in a batch of 
plants of the same species isolated plants are found uninjured, 
whilst the others are killed. Not infrequently during last season 
cases were noticed of trees of a century’s growth, which had 
withstood greater frosts than those of last winter, being severely 
crippled, while younger plants of the same species, growing com- 
paratively near them, entirely escaped injury. It was noticed, 
also, that in many instances this state of matters was reversed. 
As the effect of the severe frost on shrubs in our Parks may 
prove of service to those citizens who take an interest in such 
matters, it may be useful to note a few examples. For instance, 
the common Lhododendron ponticum, Linn., suffered more severely 
than the fine coloured hybrid varieties ; while the hardiest of all 
appears to be a variety which thrives admirably about Glasgow, 
viz.:—R. ponticum, Linn., var. Cunninghami. ‘The lesson taught 
by the Rhododendrons is obvious. Regarding Hollies, the broad- 
leaved sorts are the only ones now planted in quantity, as they 
withstand the impure atmospheric conditions better than the 
variegated or fancy-leaved ones, and these, while they were not 
killed, suffered serious defoliation, and were much weakened in 
consequence. Inthe case of Aucubas, only the few fancy varieties 
were killed outright. ‘The well-known Aucuba japonica, Thunb.— 
though the foliage and sappy growths were severely blackened— 
recruited wonderfully during the season. Amongst the hardy 
heaths the majority of the foreign species stood better than our 

